Scioto: Ken Hanover overcomes wide journey in Jim Ewart Memorial

Roland Mallar trainee Ken Hanover took the $260,000 Grade 2 Jim Ewart Memorial Pace on Saturday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs in 1:48 after never seeing a pylon.

Tim Tetrick got Ken Hanover away sixth as Women Layer (David Miller) was parked heading towards the 26 second opening quarter. Jordan Stratton had For Once Inmy Life on the move from the word go and made the front as the field straightened out down the stretch for the first time, getting to the half in 53 seconds. Pulling from third, Dandy Ideal (Jason Bartlett) came first-up to make the lead by the 1:20 1/5 three-quarters, towing Harrisburg Heist (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) second-over, with Ken Hanover stalking third-over.

Tetrick pulled three-wide in the last turn and sprinted away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Bythemissal (Chris Page) came up the middle of the track to finish second, with Clever Cody (Luke Ebersole) closing to get third. Ken Hanover went off at 5-1 and paid $12.20 to win.

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Ken Hanover's last start was on August 22, and to prep for Saturday's Ewart, Mallar opted to qualify him at the Meadowlands, where he went a 1:48 1/5 mile with a 25 3/5 last quarter.

"I think he's rounding into where he was last year, when he was sharp," said Mallar. "He needed that qualifier at the Meadowlands to get stretched out. When you race against these types of horses, you have to be ready to go and qualifying in 1:55 ain't going to do it."

"This year I got to drive him, and he started the year off really good," said Tetrick. "He qualified super and then just went through a little lull spot. I think last year when the weather got cooler, he got hotter, so I'm hoping he does the same thing."

Mallar said that next up for Ken Hanover, the plan is to take him to Hoosier, Dayton, The Red Mile and the Breeders Crown.

Ken Hanover is owned by Mallar in partnership with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt. The 6-year-old stallion by Captaintreacherous now has 24 lifetime wins and over $1.46 million in earnings.

--press release (Scioto)--