The Empire Breeders Classics (EBC) for 3-year-old New York-sired pacers were the headline events on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs, and Legendary Hanover put up a 1:48 1/5 track record performance in the second grouping for colts and geldings. Howlenthehills, A Few Choice Words and Tarrific were the other victors. Legendary Hanover got picked off at the wire by Captain Albano in the Max C. Hempt Memorial final in his last outing at Pocono, but he had no such problems in today's $105,750 contest as driver James MacDonald moved him from third past the 27 1/5 quarter and had him in control from Huntingforchrome (Matt Kakaley) before the 55 1/5 half. From there, Legendary Hanover ripped through three-quarters in 1:21 4/5, opened up a gap on the field on the final bend and cruised to a seven length triumph over Boston Rocks (Jason Bartlett). Huntingforchrome wound up third. That clocking knocked two-fifths of a second off the previous standard of 1:48 3/5 set by Courtly Choice in 2018. "The only thing with him, you've just got to watch your speed sometimes," noted MacDonald. "I just said 'I'll just let him coast up the backside comfortably,' and I figured he was going 27 2/5 or 27 3/5 and it comes up 26 and change. He does it so easy. "I've driven Huntingforchrome a couple of times, so I knew a little bit about him and he's a great horse. I kind of let him pace a little bit in the last turn, and he's just rarin' for more all the time. It was a little disappointing last time getting beat. I thought maybe I made a couple of little mistakes, but the horse was sensational and he just showed it again today. He's unbelievable." Tony Beaton trains Legendary Hanover, a Huntsville colt bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. This was his 12th win from 19 lifetime starts, he has now earned $982,544 and he paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite. Howlenthehills (Kakaley) took the first $104,500 flight for the boys in 1:50 3/5. He was also third at the 27 second quarter but brushed to the front in the second quarter and hit the front on the way to the 55 second half-mile marker. Seen Here (Brett Beckwith) moved first-up from fourth past the half and got to within half a length of Howlenthehills at the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters, but Howlenthehills dispatched his bid on the final bend and then kept a gaining-from-the-pocket Escape To America (Bartlett) at bay through the lane, prevailing by half a length. Spring Blake (Greg Merton) collected third. "He looked like he was the best one in there as long as I kept him out of trouble, so that was my only goal here," offered Kakaley. "He's just a nice horse. He's a sweetheart to drive and he tries hard. He gives it his all every time he steps on the track, so it makes my job easier." A gelding by American Ideal, the Travis Alexander-trained Howlenthehills was bred by Crawford Farms and is owned by Symmetry Stables LLC. After going without a victory in eight tries as a 2-year-old, Howlenthehills is 11-for-12 (with one second) in the win column in 2024 and has pocketed $427,231 lifetime. He returned $2.30 to win as the 1-9 choice. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter In the opening $108,000 tilt for the fillies, A Few Choice Words (Jim Marohn Jr.) got to the quarter in 27 seconds, let She's Epic (Kakaley) hit the point briefly past that station, then re-moved to the engine. A Few Choice Words clicked off the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 3/5, but came under siege from a first-up Peace Talks (Bartlett) on the final bend, with Camerican (Jordan Stratton) second-over. Camerican tipped out three-wide in the lane to join the fight between A Few Choice Words and Peace Talks, but A Few Choice Words wouldn't relent and kept her head in front of Camerican in a 1:52 performance. Peace Talks was right there in third in the blanket finish. "That was an epic stretch battle. All three horses were as hard as they could towards the wire. I was just grateful enough that my horse prevailed," remarked Marohn Jr. after the race. "I haven't seen her extended like that before, but I've seen her fight off competition like that before. It's a great feeling to get the win, but she's done it before, so it wasn't a surprise." By Courtly Choice and bred by Knot Xzachallie Stable, A Few Choice Words is trained by Blake MacIntosh for owner Clancy Farms. This was her 11th career victory, she has now banked $279,057 and she paid $4.30 to win as the favorite. Hunting Hula (Mark MacDonald) put up fractions of 26 3/5, 56 1/5 and 1:23 3/5 in the second filly section, but Tarrific (Bartlett), who was out and moving first-up from third en route to three-quarters, went by Hunting Hula and then was able to slide back down to the pylons on the far turn. From there, Tarrific drew off to a 2 1/4 length tally in 1:51 with Leanne's Choice (Marcus Miller) second and Ponynamedwildfire (J. MacDonald) third. "She's not real quick at anything, but she just wears everybody down," said Bartlett. "She's been so great every time I've driven her. I think now we're going on to the (New York Sire Stakes) final at Yonkers in two weeks." Tarrific, bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, is owned by Margaret Dey and Let It Ride Stables Inc. The Chris Ryder trainee made her fifth appearance in the winner's circle, she has now put away $265,149 and returned $2.30 to win. Two $51,500 New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old male pacers were featured on the undercard. The winners were Thirsty Thursday (by Huntsville, bred by co-owner Chuck Pompey with Northfork Racing Stable, non-wagering race) in 1:51 2/5 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander and co-owner Flying A Racing Stable and Holt Hanover (by Huntsville, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, paid $9.20 to win) in 1:50 4/5 for driver Mark MacDonald, co-owner/trainer Ray Schnittker and co-owners Joe Sbrocco, Gunjan Patel and Gewertz Latore Palumbo.