Rosecroft: Allywag Hanover tackles Tattoo Artist in Potomac Pace

Allywag Hanover, the co-second fastest horse in the history of Standardbred racing, will look to get back on the winning track on Thursday (Nov. 10) when he heads a field of seven in the $125,000 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway. Allywag Hanover was most recently third behind both divisional leader Bulldog Hanover and fellow Potomac participant Tattoo Artist in the Breeders Crown on October 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It was a good effort but perhaps one that fell a bit short of expectations following his 1:46 win at The Red Mile on October 9.

"I thought he raced really well. He basically dragged Bulldog [Hanover] to the front, so he did a lot of work in the first three-eighths or so. Following a horse like that, he was entitled to kind of come to the end of it. I was hoping he would fight off Tattoo Artist for second but he didn't. [Driver] Todd [McCarthy] said he gave all he could," said trainer Brett Pelling, who handles the 5-year-old for the Allywag Stable.

"I was really stoked with him at The Red Mile but he didn't come out of it exactly the way we wanted. I didn't get to prep him exactly how I wanted, even though we had the week in between. It wasn't a spot-on situation, but he came out of the race good and he's back home now, so he's doing well."

Allywag Hanover will no doubt have to be on top of his game if he is to turn the tables on Tattoo Artist, a 10-time winner in 2022 with earnings north of $770,000. While he has the post edge (four vs. five), Tattoo Artist has proven so fast off the gate that he can get around just about any horse, and Dexter Dunn is back in the bike. The last time he drove the result was a 1:48 4/5 victory on a five-eighths Scioto surface in August.

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"It is him and Tattoo Artist. I'm sure it will line up that way, whether he is in front or vice versa," summed up Pelling on how the race will play out.

The field also includes 2020 winner Leonidas A (post six) off an Open Handicap victory at Yonkers Raceway, Sonny Waver N (post two), a consistent conditioned performer, and a trio from the Ron Burke barn in Workin Ona Mystery (post one), Lou's Pearlman (post three) and This Is The Plan (post 7).

Regardless of the results on Thursday, the Potomac, race 11 on a 14-race program, will be the final start of the year for Allywag Hanover since he's not eligible to the TVG series final. "This is his last race and he's done until February 1. At least next year he'll be staked to everything," said Pelling.