Saratoga Harness: Cecil Hanover doubles up in NY Sire Stakes

Cecil Hanover backed up his victory in the New York Sire Stakes program at MGM Yonkers Raceway on August 10 by capturing Saturday night's single $171,000 test for 3-year-old male trotters at Saratoga Casino Hotel. This also added on to a big day for trainer Ake Svanstedt after his four-bagger on Sun Stakes Saturday at Pocono.

Driven by Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey, Cecil Hanover showed speed from post six and trotted up two-wide to take the lead away from Wild Bill Kelso (Brett Beckwith) after the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Chapercraz (Joe Bongiorno) was hot on Cecil Hanover's heels, though, and he would become the new tempo-setter on the second turn.

Chapercraz reached the half in 56 1/5, but Spending Crazy (Luke Hanners) began a first-over move out of fourth at that point, and he came with a quick attack that carried him by Chapercraz at the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters. Sevecheetah (Phil Fluet) tried to follow Spending Crazy's cover but gapped, allowing Hennessey and Cecil Hanover to slide off the pylons and then take up the chase of Spending Crazy.

Spending Crazy tried to brace for Cecil Hanover beyond three-quarters, but it was to no avail, as Cecil Hanover charged by him before they turned into the stretch and opened up through the drive to score by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:54 3/5. Spending Crazy did hold on for second over Some Kinda Crazy (Jim Devaux).

Svanstedt also co-owns Cecil Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, with partners S R F Stable, Midnight Sun Partners Inc., and Jorgen Sparredal Inc. This was his fifth career win, and he has now earned $356,455. He paid $4.30 to win as the favorite.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Winning the three $20,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series divisions that took place on the undercard were:

--Seven Sins (by Chapter Seven and bred by Crawford Farms) in 1:57 3/5 for driver Niko Karna, co-owner/trainer Noel Daley and co-owners Patricia Stable, Allister Stables LLC. and L.A. Express Stable LLC

--Kingpin Hanover (by E L Titan and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms) in 1:57 4/5 for driver Jim Pantaleano, trainer Jody Riedel and owner Super Mile LLC.

--City Of Hope (by Met's Hall and bred by Winbak Farm) in 1:58 1/5 for driver Jim Devaux, co-owner/trainer Dave Dewhurst and co-owner Philip Hale

A charity match race between driver Brett Beckwith and Thoroughbred jockey Flavien Prat was contested after the evening's sixth race on the card, and Beckwith, who currently sits second in the driver standings at Saratoga this season, got the better of Prat.

Both piloted 3-year-old trotting fillies in an event that has been highly touted all summer long. Beckwith's Cross Creek Samara defeated Prat's Foxe Ella, who led for roughly a half mile before seeing her rival cruise by before drawing away to prevail decisively.

Beckwith was driving for the Franklin Community Center, while Prat drove for BCCA Faith's House of Saratoga. All together the event raised roughly $10,000 for the charities and brought an excited buzz to the track. There was a big crowd who made it out to support the event, which elicited a lot of crossover support from the Thoroughbred side of the sport.

--match race recap courtesy of Saratoga Casino Hotel--