Woodbine Mohawk Park: Papi Rob Hanover defeats Tall Dark Stranger in Crown elim

Papi Rob Hanover finished second to Tall Dark Stranger in both their Metro elimination and the final last month, but Papi Rob Hanover turned the tables on Tall Dark Stranger in the single C$32,500 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Friday night, handing the Metro champ his first career defeat over the same Woodbine Mohawk Park oval where they dueled in that C$750,000 contest back in September.

Tall Dark Stranger (Yannick Gingras) pressed on past Cattlewash (Louis-Philippe Roy) at the 27 4/5 opening quarter, but David Miller brought Papi Rob Hanover to the outside from fourth just past that marker, and after a backstretch battle, Papi Rob Hanover was able to clear Tall Dark Stranger beyond the 55 1/5 half.

Major Betts (Dexter Dunn) was unable to make any headway from first-over around the last turn, and that let Papi Rob Hanover kept clear to the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, and when Tall Dark Stranger tipped to the outside in the stretch, Papi Rob Hanover fought him off on this night, holding sway to win by a length and a quarter in 1:50 2/5. Cattlewash was a good third, followed by Mayhem Hanover (Doug McNair), Freedom Warrior (Brian Sears), Allywag Hanover (Jonathan Drury), Major Betts, and Put To Right (Andrew McCarthy).

Those eight horses will join bye-takers Capt Midnight and Catch The Fire in the $600,000 final next Friday night.

"I talked to (trainer Brett Pelling) before the race," said David Miller. "I was like 'what's our main objective because you had to be eighth to make the final.' He said 'I came here to win,' so I said 'we got the job done.'

"I tried to get away close. My plan was just to race him on the end of it, but when they went 27 4/5 I had to do something. It was going to be a half in 56, and I would be first-over on that horse. I decided to take a shot, and Yannick stretched me a bit, but I grabbed my horse up, and he felt strong through the stretch. He seems to be in good shape right now mentally and physically, so I think we're coming into it in good shape."

Pelling trains Papi Rob Hanover, a colt by Somebeachsomewhere, for owner David McDuffee. This was Papi Rob Hanover's fourth win in nine tries, and he pushed his bankroll to C$376,295. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Papi Rob Hanover sold for $130,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale and is the second foal out of Panera Hanover (Rocknroll Hanover, 1:51 2/5, C$158,622). Panera Hanover is a half-sister to four other six-figure earners, topped by JK Panache (Art Major, 1:47 3/5, $662,789). Papi Rob Hanover was the 3-2 second choice and paid $5.00 to win.

"I've got a huge amount of belief in this horse. He does everything absolutely perfect. He's a dream to be around, and I really believe that he is the real deal," remarked Pelling. "He's just never done anything wrong. Even in the races where he's lost he's been phenomenal. It was just a matter of getting him into condition. He was a big colt, carried a lot of weight, and it's taken really til now to pare him down, but he's pared down the right way."

"In the Metro we had the nine, and I thought he was the best that night. I just decided to opt out of the bye. I wanted to earn my post. That's one step done, and no more nine- and ten-holes next week, so we'll be okay."