The Meadows: Ken Hanover seeks a major win in Adios

Ken Hanover has done just about everything asked of him, racing competitively against the tops of his division and banking nearly $250,000 in the process. Yet he still lacks that signature win that would propel him to stardom among sophomore male pacers.

The son of Captaintreacherous-KJ’s Justine will seek that signature score in Saturday’s $350,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. He’ll leave from post 8 for David Miller in the Adios, which goes as race 15 on the 16-race card. First post is 11:45 AM.

Ken Hanover has captured a number of Pennsylvania Sires Stake legs, and he finished third to Fulton in last year’s PASS final (Fulton, by the way, is even farther out in the Adios, starting from post 9). He also finished third in an International Stallion Series split at the Red Mile. It may be worth mentioning that the morning-line Adios favorite, It’s My Show, finished sixth in that heat.

Roland Mallar, who trains Ken Hanover and owns with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt, recognizes the lack of a breakthrough win for his colt but attributes part of it to scheduling.

“I didn’t have him paid in to a whole lot last year, so this is the first major stakes race we were pointing to,” Mallar says. “Hopefully we can knock one of them off between now and the end of the fall.”

He noted that Ken Hanover is eligible to such rich engagements as the Hempt, the Little Brown Jug, the Bluegrass, the International Stallion Series and the Matron.

“He’s been ham-and-egging it around, but I think he’s proven he can go with these. He’s always charging home, even when he’s facing this caliber of horse. It will be tough from the eight-hole, but if he shows up, I hope we can grab a chunk of it.”

Speaking of ham-and-egging it, Mallar has been a standout for years in PA Sires Stakes but still might be flying a bit under the radar. Could it be that Ken Hanover’s trainer needs a champagne breakfast as much as the colt does?

“That probably would be nice,” Mallar acknowledged. “We’ve been bouncing around in Pennsylvania and had some decent horses, but getting one of these major wins is what we’re in it for. The stars have to be aligned right.”

The Adios anchors a blockbuster card that also features five other Grand Circuit stakes. For the Adios Day card, The Meadows is offering a total of $170,000 in pool guarantees, several in association with the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) and the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Initiative. The innovative--and potentially lucrative--wagers include an Adios Pick 8 with a $15,000 guarantee (race 8) and a pair of guarantees for the Adios in race 15--Trifecta ($40,000) and Superfecta ($20,000).

All the Adios Day action will be livestreamed, with free access at the MSOA Facebook page and YouTube channel. The livestream show, which begins at 11:45 AM, will be hosted by Meadows race caller Jeff Zidek, prominent harness announcer Gabe Prewitt and Dawnelle Mock of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association.

Here's the field for the Adios in post position order with trainers and preliminary driver designations:

1. Flite Craft Norm Parker Mike Wilder

2. Ervine Hanover Ron Burke Yannick Gingras

3. It's My Show Linda Toscano Scott Zeron

4. Cannibal Nancy Takter Gingras

5. Redwood Hanover Anthony Beaton James MacDonald

6. Bamboozler Virgil Morgan, Jr. Dexter Dunn

7. Seven Colors Brian Brown Dave Palone

8. Ken Hanover Roland Mallar David Miller

9. Fulton Toscano Dunn

-edited release (Evan Pattak for The Meadows)