Vernon: The beat goes on for Hannelore Hanover in Muscle Hill

Driver Yannick Gingras left the gate but didn't press the issue early in the $170,000 Muscle Hill for mare trotters at Vernon Downs on Friday night. That allowed Hannelore Hanover plenty of time to get the lead, and once in front she was dominant, winning for fun in 1:51 3/5.

On paper it was a match-up between 2-5 favorite Hannelore Hanover and 9-5 second choice Shake It Cerry, and on the racetrack the two both left, but Shake It Cerry settled for a tuck, while Hannelore Hanover marched to the front. It was Barn Doll and Jeff Gregory first to the lead, and she was in command through the 27 1/5 opening quarter, but Gingras rolled up ever so slowly with Hannelore Hanover and took control off the opening bend. The slow grind left the Ron Burke-trained 4-year-old mare in control through a comfortable 57 second half, and essentially at that point the race was over.

Shake It Cerry and David Miller marched up slowly without cover with the pace accelerating some in the third quarter of 27 4/5, but Shake It Cerry proved no threat as Gingras asked Hannelore Hanover for trot, and she sprinted off with a 26 4/5 final quarter to win by open lengths over Shake It Cerry, while early pacesetter Barn Doll settled for third.

"I was a little worried at the half with Yannick loose lining her," said Ron Burke, the winning trainer. "But she finished well in hand.

Burke suggested afterwards that the 13-time winner in 2016 may in fact be looking for a higher level of competition.

"We'll see how they race in the next race (Crawford Farms Trot), and then decide whether to supplement her to the race in Canada," Burke said. "She grew up on the seven-eighths mile track and loves it."

Owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Baldachino, Hannelore Hanover has now earned $970,763 during her brilliant career.