Allywag Hanover became the fastest horse in harness racing history on a five-eighths-mile track by winning the $125,000 Potomac Pace for free-for-allers on Thursday night at Rosecroft Raceway in 1:46 4/5. The event turned into a virtual match race between 3-5 favorite Tattoo Artist (Dexter Dunn) and even-money second choice Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy) from start to finish, as Tattoo Artist and Dunn worked past Allywag Hanover before the 25 4/5 opening quarter and kept the pedal to the metal from there, hitting the half in 53 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:20. Tattoo Artist and Allywag Hanover gained separation from the rest of the pack through the fast tempo, especially after Workin Ona Mystery (David Miller) gapped in the three-hole going to the half and then stopped, forcing horses two-wide to get around him and shuffling back a pinned-in Sonny Weaver N (Jonathan Roberts). After stalking Tattoo Artist all the way, McCarthy took his shot with Allywag Hanover by bringing him off the pylons coming off the final bend, and he was able to out-foot Tattoo Artist through the stretch and to the wire, getting up for the victory by a length. This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) was third, followed by Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) and Lou's Pearlman (Simon Allard). The time of 1:46 4/5 knocked a fifth of a second off the previous all-age world record on a five-eighths-mile track of 1:47 set first by Sweet Lou in 2014 at Pocono and then equaled by Always B Miki in 2016 at the same venue. "I thought Tattoo Artist was going to be pretty hard there to beat tonight, and last year we got beat [in the Potomac Pace], so it was nice to get a victory here," said McCarthy. "He loves that kind of trip. [Tattoo Artist] was the perfect horse to follow, and I just had to hope that the speed was going to be solid enough early that we were going to have a little shot at the end. It worked out tonight." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter This was Allywag Hanover's final start of the year since he's not eligible to the TVG final at the Meadowlands, but McCarthy was still very happy with the campaign that last year's Dan Patch Award winner has put forth, especially since he wasn't in some of the marquee races for the division. "He's had such a phenomenal season for what he's got to race in," offered McCarthy. "It's probably worked out perfect for him. Brett [Pelling's] done a great job managing him, and full credit to him, he has him spot on every time I get to sit behind him. It's always a privilege and pleasure. He's a fun horse to drive and hopefully next year we've got him in some main events." Pelling trains Allywag Hanover, a 5-year-old Captaintreacherous gelding, for owner Allywag Stable. Allywag Hanover posted his 24th career victory, and he has now pocketed $1,670,221. Allywag Hanover paid $4.00 to win.