Red Mile: Elver Hanover now the fastest freshman male pacer in harness racing history

Elver Hanover, who was making his Grand Circuit debut after going seven-for-seven in Ohio, including a win in the sire stakes final, became the fastest 2-year-old male pacer in the history of harness racing on Saturday at The Red Mile, winning the first of four Bluegrass divisions in 1:48 3/5.

Driven by Yannick Gingras in the $80,950 race, Elver Hanover left from post two and worked out a pocket trip behind Kentucky Sires Stakes champion Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder) after releasing him to the point. Catch The Fire ripped through fractions of 27, 54, and 1:21 3/5, but Gingras angled out past three-quarters, and Elver Hanover surged into the lead in the lane. With Gingras driving him out to the wire, Elver Hanover kept clear over Put To Right (Andrew McCarthy), winning by 2 3/4 lengths in the historic mile. Catch The Fire wound up third.

The 1:48 3/5 clocking lowered the previous world record for a rookie gelding pacer of 1:49 2/5 set by Dragnet Alert at The Red Mile in 1:49 2/5, eclipsed the freshman colt world record of 1:49 belonging to Sweet Lou, Downbytheseaside, and Huntsville, and matched fellow Ron Burke trainee Warrawee Ubeaut for the fastest-ever mile by a 2-year-old of either sex as she set the same time in Lexington last year.

"Ronnie, the only thing he said was 'most of the time he's a little better with a target, but do whatever you want.' He's a professional," said Gingras. "Mine felt really, really good in the hole. He put up some hot fractions, so I was content to sit there. When I called on him at the top of the stretch he was still full of pace. I figured it would be 49 or a little bit better. He's a gelding, so it doesn't make a big difference, but it's nice to let him pace and make the connections happy.

"Ronnie said 'he likes to win,' and he showed it again today."

Elver Hanover, a gelded son of Yankee Cruiser-Edra Hanover (The Panderosa) is trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, Jason Melillo, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Elver Hanover, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and acquired for $50,000 at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale, has won all eight of his tries, shows a bankroll of $329,075, and returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

"Of all the yearlings I've raised, thousands of them by now, he was absolutely one of my favorites. He was gorgeous, and I'm a believer in the mare. I love the mare. He was one of the smartest I've ever raised, just a real great horse," said Dr. Jablonsky, Executive Vice President at Hanover. "When Ronnie bought him, and I had told Ronnie how much I loved him, I asked if I could get in, and they were nice enough to let me in. They were sold out, and they made room. I want to say thank you to Mark (Weaver) and Ronnie and everyone else for letting me in.

"This has been the best summer of my life. I went to Ohio three times to watch him race. I was at the Jug, then today. It's just awesome. I keep saying, now I know why people buy yearlings because this is a wonderful experience. Standing here with him in the winner's circle, he was so well-behaved, and he's such a good horse. There's no feeling like it, just terrific."

Burke and Gingras also teamed up to win the third $80,950 Bluegrass with Cattlewash. Cattlewash popped pocket to take the lead away from Esai Hanover (McCarthy) past the 27 1/5 first quarter, then went on to hit the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5. Cattlewash then kicked clear in the stretch, winning by two lengths in 1:50 3/5, with Manticore (Brian Sears) up for second, and Fortify (Scott Zeron) coming on for third.

A Somebeachsomewhere colt, Cattlewash is a homebred for W.J. Donovan. Cattlewash, the first foal out of the Bettor's Delight mare Road Bet (1:52, $380,315), a half-sister to Mypanmar (The Panderosa, 1:48 3/5, $1,490,996), sports a record of 4-2-0 from eight tries and he has pocketed $141,502. Cattlewash was the 5-2 second choice and paid $7.40 to win.

The remaining Bluegrass battles, worth $80,950 and $81,950, were won by Captain Barbossa (McCarthy) and Roll With Jr (Doug McNair).

Captain Barbossa tucked in third from post seven going to the 28 1/5 opening quarter, then brushed to the lead. After middle-half panels of 56 3/5 and 1:24 4/5, Captain Barbossa kicked home in 26 3/5 and won by a length and a quarter in 1:51 2/5. Opportune Hanover (Gingras) rallied up the inside for second, with early leader A Positive Hanover (David Miller) third.

A son of Captaintreacherous-Swinging Beauty (Art Major), Captain Barbossa now owns a pair of wins from nine trips behind the gate and has put away $90,892. He's trained by Tony Alagna for owners Alagnafrankinthegym Stable, Robert Leblanc, and David Anderson. Captain Barbossa, who was bred by Steiner Stock Farm and fetched $70,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, was a 6-1 shot and returned $15.20 to win.

Roll With Jr and McNair led through opening-half fractions of 27 and 55 3/5, repelled and then dispatched a stern first-over try from Chief Mate (Montrell Teague) around the last turn and to the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, and kept pocket-sitter Team Best (D. Miller) at bay as well through the lane, winning by half a length in 1:50 4/5. Tell Them Lou (Dexter Dunn) checked in third.

This was the third career win for the victorious Roll With Joe-No One Is Alone (The Panderosa) colt. Trainer Jeff Cullipher also co-owns the $15,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy, who was bred in Lexington by the Jacksons (Kenneth and Lisa) and the Bradys (Robert and Rebecca), with partner Pollack Racing LLC. Roll With Jr has earned $142,891 from nine starts, and he paid $10.00 to win as the 4-1 third choice.