Rosecroft: Abuckabett Hanover adds Potomac Pace trophy to his haul
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Abuckabett Hanover worked out a pocket trip and then vaulted by pace-setter Ruthless Hanover in the stretch to take Sunday evening's $125,000 Potomac Pace for free-for-allers in 1:47 4/5.
The field of eight was reduced by one with the scratch of It's My Show, and then 4-5 favorite Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) got away at the back of the pack and was pulled up before the half after bleeding early in the mile.
Meanwhile, Ruthless Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.), who started from the outside post seven, made the lead with zero dispute and went on his customary speed mission, laying down fractions of 25 4/5, 54 1/5 and 1:20 3/5. Abuckabett Hanover (Dexter Dunn) was two lengths behind at three-quarters, but he got back to Napolitano Jr.'s helmet on the last turn, and then Dunn wheeled him to the outside off the bend.
In the lane Abuckabett Hanover was able to wear down and then pass Ruthless Hanover on his way to the victory by three-quarters of a length. Charlie May (Dan Noble) was third after gaining off a three-hole trip, and Little Rocket Man (David Miller) closed well after hugging the cones in sixth to get fourth. El Rey (Todd McCarthy) was fifth after tracking the dull cover of eventual sixth-place finisher Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton).
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"He got off the gate pretty good and followed the right horse after that. It was a great mile by him, though," Dunn said after the victory. "Ruthless Hanover was charging off the backstretch there into that last turn. Just coming off the last turn, he finally sort of got up on the bit before we pulled him, and he sprinted home good.
"He had to fight for the win, but he's been racing great all year. Terribly driven in the Breeders Crown last start by me, but apart from that, he's probably been the most consistent performer in this group."
A 6-year-old Betting Line stallion bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Abuckabett Hanover is owned by trainer Andrew Harris in partnership with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. Abuckabett Hanover has a summary of 21-20-12 from 73 starts, has earned $1,895,152 and paid $9.60 to win as the 7-2 second choice.