Red Mile: Tattersalls title to Abuckabett Hanover

Abuckabett Hanover was given the absolute perfect steer by driver Andrew McCarthy and sprung an 11-1 upset, capturing the $500,000 Tattersalls for sophomore colt and gelding pacers at The Red Mile on Sunday. The Tony Alagna-trained 3-year-old overcame post nine and 11 rivals to take the event in a 1:49 4/5 mile.

McCarthy put Abuckabett Hanover in play from the start, leaving hard enough to find placement on the first turn behind Bluegrass winner Southwind Gendry. Perfect Sting and Lou's Pearlman both left with purpose, with the former gaining the front through a soft 28 second opening quarter before yielding to the Little Brown Jug winner Lou's Pearlman and Yannick Gingras past that marker.

Gingras kept the brakes on firmly through the second quarter and got the half in a modest 55 2/5 over the lightning- fast surface, with Southwind Gendry moving to the outside before the half, followed by Abuckabett Hanover. Summa Cum Laude and supplemental entry Charlie May followed in third- and fourth-over positions, respectively.

With Lou's Pearlman cutting the pace, Tim Tetrick, aboard Southwind Gendry, was content to come without cover and not press the issue, allowing the field to reach three-quarters in 1:23 1/5 and giving those in the first flank the biggest chance to capture the prestigious race.

McCarthy swung Abuckabett Hanover wide in the homestretch, and the son of Betting Line kicked into high gear. Perfect Sting, the public choice at 6-5, came through a gaping hole along the pylons for David Miller, and the pair battled hard to the wire, but Abuckabett Hanover's momentum carried him across first, with Perfect Sting a bridesmaid for the eighth time this year. Southwind Gendry held firmly for the show spot, with Charlie May again luckless in fourth.

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Owned by Crawford Farms, Alagna Racing, Jablonsky-Held, and Barbara Wienick Stable, Abuckabett Hanover won for the 11th time in his career.

"I told Andy before the race that you had to go forward," said Alagna of the pre-game plan. "If any horse deserved a big win, it was him."

Sent off at 11-1, Abuckabett Hanover returned $25.80 to win.