Pocono: Legendary Hanover ready for Hempt

Legendary Hanover is not history’s fastest 3-year-old pacer, not yet at least, but he has put his name in the record book when it comes to speed. With his 1:46 3/5 win in the Meadowlands Pace and 1:46 2/5 score in the Cane Pace, the colt became the first-ever sophomore with multiple sub-1:47 victories in a season.

And he did it in consecutive starts, falling just shy of Confederate’s 1:46 1/5 world record for a 3-year-old pacer.

“I still wake up every morning and pinch myself to make sure this is reality,” Legendary Hanover’s trainer, Anthony Beaton, said with a laugh. “I thought this is kind of the caliber of horse he was. But is he going to go that fast? You never know. But the way they drive them now, they’re just like racecars. The fact he can come right back and do it again, he’s an amazing animal. He’s just special.”

Legendary Hanover’s next start comes Saturday in the $300,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old pacers at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs. The colt is the 2-1 morning-line favorite and will leave from post seven in a field of eight with regular driver James MacDonald.

The Hempt is part of a Sun Stakes Saturday card at the northeast Pennsylvania five-eighths-mile oval that also features the $300,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters, $250,000 James M. Lynch Memorial for 3-year-old female pacers, and $250,000 Delmonica Hanover for 3-year-old female trotters.

Racing begins at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at Pocono Downs.

Legendary Hanover was Canada’s O’Brien Award winner for best 2-year-old male pacer in 2023, when he finished worse than second only once in nine starts, winning six. So far this season, he’s been worse than second only once in eight races, winning five. He brings a three-race victory streak to the Hempt, which includes his Meadowlands Pace triumph on July 13 and Cane Pace win on Aug. 3, both at The Meadowlands.

The son of Huntsville-Lillian Hanover is a half-brother to Linedrive Hanover, who Beaton has also trained. Linedrive Hanover holds the Canadian record for pacing on a half-mile track, 1:49, and has a lifetime mark of 1:47.

“I knew how good Linedrive was, and how he could carry his speed, but the first time I sat behind (Legendary Hanover), it was like, wow, this is a powerful animal for a 2-year-old,” Beaton said. “He was a powerful individual from day one. And as he’s developed, he’s gotten more powerful and stronger. He’s got a huge set of lungs on him and just doesn’t get tired.

“This fella just had something about him that I knew he was going to be a great horse. He’s just such a professional.”

Legendary Hanover, with his 11 wins and four seconds in 17 career races, has earned $854,669 for owners Eric Good, West Wins Stable, and Mark Dumain. The colt’s start at Pocono will be his first on a track other than a mile or seven-eighths.

“I don’t see that being an issue; he’s a very good-gaited horse,” Beaton said. “He seems to handle whatever we throw at him.”

Captain’s Quarters, who finished third in the Cane Pace, is the 7-2 second choice in the Hempt. He will leave from post two with Scott Zeron driving for trainer Herbert Holland. Captain Albano, who won the Adios in his most recent start, is the 9-2 third choice. He will leave from post five with Todd McCarthy in the sulky for trainer Noel Daley.

The world record for a 3-year-old pacer on a five-eighths is 1:47 1/5, set by Papi Rob Hanover in 2020 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Of course, Legendary Hanover is not the only stakes-winning 3-year-old colt in Beaton’s stable. Nijinsky, who in June won the North America Cup, has won seven of eight races this season with his lone setback being a second-place finish to Legendary Hanover in the Meadowlands Pace.

Nijinsky will make his next start Friday in the fourth round of the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

“We’re trying our best to split them up,” Beaton said about Legendary Hanover and Nijinsky. “With the way (Nijinsky’s) schedule worked out, we wanted to focus on the Golds with him. He’s been super.”

Beaton, who trains Nijinsky for owners West Wins, John Fielding, and Dumain, has seen his stable earn $1.97 million in purses this year, already surpassing his career-best $1.75 million in 2023.

“It’s just been a crazy year with the races we’re winning and the way the horses have been racing,” Beaton said. “It’s been amazing.”