Woodbine Mohawk Park: More history for Hannelore Hanover as she trots Canada's fastest mile
Atlanta posted an eye-popping 1:51 mile to try the track record in tonight's first Armbro Flight elim for trotting mares at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but then Hannelore Hanover, who has won this race three years in-a-row, said 'not so fast' to her Ron Burke stablemate, trotting the fastest mile ever in Canada in the second elimination, burning up the track in 1:50 3/5.
Yannick Gingras was at the controls behind both Hannelore Hanover and Atlanta, and in Hannelore Hanover's elimination he made the decision to push on to the front early, getting around Top Expecations (Daniel Dube) passing the 27 2/5 opening quarter. After she made front, Hannelore Hanover controlled the race to the half in 56 seconds, then began to both pick up the tempo and get separation on both Top Expectations and race favorite Emoticon Hanover (Bob McClure) on the final bend, pulling clear by nearly four lengths at the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters. Things remained status quo through the lane, with Hannelore Hanover utilizing a 26 4/5 final quarter to defeat Top Expectations by 4 1/4 lengths, with Emoticon Hanover, Weslynn Dancer (David Miller), and The Erm (Sylvain Filion) also advancing.
"Yeah, she's back, no doubt about it. She was really good," beamed Gingras. "She's sound as a dollar right now, and she was really sharp in the post parade. Once she hit the last turn she was trotting real strong, and she felt like her old self."
When asked about which Burke trainee he would drive in the final, Gingras responded, "I'm going to talk to Ronnie. It's going to be a team decision. I've got to talk to him, see what he thinks, and go from there."
Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Frank Baldachino, and J And T Silva Stables LLC. own Hannelore Hanover, a 7-year-old Swan For All mare. This was her 43rd career victory, and she has now earned C$3,073,210. The 2-1 second choice, she returned $6.50 to win.
Back in the first elimination, it was pretty much all Atlanta and Gingras. She moved around Dream Together (McClure) to take control past the 27 3/5 first quarter, then backed down the half to a soft 56 4/5. Atlanta would get a gap on the field around the final turn and to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, then poured it on in the lane with a 26 4/5 last quarter to score by 7 1/4 lengths. Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) got second, followed by P L Jill (Filion), Highland Top Hill (Scott Zeron), and Royal Witch (Trevor Henry).
"She was unreal tonight," said Gingras. "She was great at Miami Valley, but last week here I didn't think she was 100 percent. Tonight she was definitely back in form. She did it so easy, and I'm telling you I had a lot left. There's no doubt she could have gone 1:50 really easily. I still think there's room for improvement still for her. She's only had three starts, and I know she's not fully cranked and ready by Ronnie, so I wouldn't be surprised if she went under 1:50 soon. We'll worry about that when we get there."
Atlanta, a 4-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven, is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant, and Howard Taylor. She is now a 15-time winner in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to C$1,288,477. Dispatched at 1-9, she paid $2.20 to win.
Here is how the field will line up for next Saturday night's C$256,000 Armbro Flight final:
1. Royal Witch
2. Weslynn Dancer
3. Hannelore Hanover
4. Atlanta
5. The Erm
6. Top Expectations
7. Highland Top Hill
8. P L Jill
9. Plunge Blue Chip
10. Emoticon Hanover
AE: Dream Together