Red Mile: Melander sweeps Allerage Open Trots with Periculum, Date Night Hanover

Periculum and Date Night Hanover gave trainer Marcus Melander victories in the Allerage Farms Open races for older trotters on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile.

The $160,000 contest for the boys saw Logan Park (Doug McNair) on the point at the 26 4/5 quarter and 55 second half. Aetos Kronos S (Dexter Dunn), who had tucked into fourth from post ten, was out and on the advance first-over in the backstretch, which gave cover to French Wine (Jason Bartlett), Periculum (Scott Zeron), Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras) and Security Protected (Andy McCarthy).

Logan Park clung to the lead at the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters, but Aetos Kronos S took command and set sail for the wire. Aetos Kronos S dug in determinedly through the lane as French Wine and Periculum advanced to his outside, and it would be Periculum who got around fellow Melander pupil Aetos Kronos S in the final strides to score by a neck in a track record 1:49 3/5. French Wine was a strong third, followed by Get A Wish (Tim Tetrick) and Dame Good Time (David Miller).

"I gave myself a few options heading into the first turn in case Dexter wanted to power-move Aetos Kronos, then I'd have French Wine in front of me," Zeron relayed after the triumph. "We just weighed the options and ended up in a good situation. We didn't intend on it being that close, but it was that close."

Melander sent out Periculum, a 6-year-old Muscle Hill stallion, for owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd. Bred by Order By Stable Ab, Periculum has a summary of 16-11-8 from 59 appearances, has pocketed $1,901,962 and paid $3.58 to win.

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In the $80,000 event for mares, Nelsonbriteagle No (Todd McCarthy) cut the quarter in 27 4/5 and then yielded to fellow Ake Svanstedt trainee and favorite Warrawee Michelle (Svanstedt). Date Night Hanover (Dunn) tracked Warrawee Michelle's two-wide bid and then was able to get into the pocket on the last turn when Nelsonbriteagle No couldn't keep the two-hole closed.

Warrawee Michelle would go on to reach three-quarters in 1:22 and turned for home first, but Dunn swung Date Night Hanover to her outside in the lane. Date Night Hanover rallied after being shown the clear racetrack, and she was able to get by Warrawee Michelle at the wire, defeating her by a nose in 1:49 2/5. Nelsonbriteagle No, Bravo Angel S (Bartlett) and Triathlon As (Zeron) completed the top five.

"It was pretty tight at the finish. Ake's mare is obviously a great mare and was fighting back really hard at this girl," Dunn said after the race. "This is by far her favorite track. She's got a great record here, and she put in a great effort today."

A 4-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Date Night Hanover is owned by Jeff Snyder and Onda Racing Stable LLC. She has 12 wins, four seconds and six thirds from 39 starts, has earned $932,896 and returned $10.64 to win.