Western Fair: Ervin Hanover inherits Camluck Classic crown via placing

The Grade 3 C$150,000 Camluck Classic Invitational at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday night turned into a thriller that required a 10-minute judges' inquiry to decide. After favorite Brue Hanover crossed the wire first, the judges found the winner had gone inside two consecutive pylons in the stretch and was double lapped-on at the finish line, elevating runner-up Ervin Hanover, with Doug McNair, to the top position while setting Brue Hanover back to third behind Chase H Hanover.

The tight half-mile track made the race interesting from start to finish as Brue Hanover gunned out quickly from post five with Chase H Hanover right on his flank. Though clearing to the pylons into the opening bend, driver James MacDonald had to steady Brue Hanover when he got a bit rough midway through the turn but did keep him on course. Chase H Hanover crossed over on the backstretch but led for just a moment as Brue Hanover regained prior to the 27 second opening fraction being set.

McNair and Ervin Hanover had gotten left in the dust on the opening bend but kept to the outside and made a dramatic move, advancing to the front late on the second turn. Ervin Hanover had the field in line through a half in 54 3/5, but Lou's World and Jody Jamieson got on the move, with Blue Hunt on his back into the third turn. Lou's World advanced quickly and Tyler Borth, guiding Chase H Hanover, neatly slid out off the third turn into second-over position. However, Ervin Hanover still had control of the action, with Brue Hanover locked inside, through three-quarters in 1:22 3/5.

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In the homestretch outside horses fanned wide and MacDonald looked to come inside with Brue Hanover. It looked tight but MacDonald has found room in the past and appeared to get clearance in time to rally his horse to a nose advantage on the wire. Ervin Hanover held his ground gamely but was nipped in the 1:52 clocking, while Chase H Hanover was gaining on both near the finish.

The head-on replay showed the infraction clearly, though Ervin Hanover may have helped his stablemate remain off the course in the final 50 yards of the race. Needless to say, trainer Dave Menary saw his Ervin Hanover get the win while stablemate Brue Hanover was set back to third.

Pollack Racing LLC. own Ervin Hanover, a 5-year-old by Captaintreacherous that likely will see his next start come in the Mohawk Gold Cup on June 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A 5-2 offering, Ervin Hanover returned $7.40 to win.

"I've been trying to win this race since I was 18," said McNair following the race.

Caviar N Crackers moved to the front at the quarter and coasted to her sixth straight win, capturing the C$50,000 Forest City Invitational for pacing mares. Driver Ed Hensley co-owns Caviar N Crackers with his wife Ashleigh, who trains the Alberta-bred daughter of Captive Audience.

In her first lifetime race over a half-mile track, Caviar N Crackers paced home to a 1:53 2/5 mile with early leader Grit N Grace second and So Much More third. Favorite Odds On Platinum made a break on the opening turn, taking her out of contention.