Woodbine Mohawk Park: Redwood Hanover registers fastest mile in SBSW divisions

Redwood Hanover and driver James MacDonald were able to squeeze out in early stretch and then flew the final eighth, overhauling 3-5 favorite Fulton to capture the first C$75,000 Somebeachsomewhere flight for sophomore male pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night. A son of Stay Hungry, Redwood Hanover won for the fourth time in five seasonal starts for trainer Anthony Beaton.

Redwood Hanover blasted from post five, with Dupree Hanover taking early command to his inside. Before the brisk 25 4/5 opening quarter, Redwood Hanover took control, but second choice No Control drove hard to seize the front shortly thereafter. Following a half-mile clocking in 54 1/5, Dexter Dunn took Fulton on a long coverless mission. At three-quarters in 1:22 1/5, Dunn appeared to have the leader put away, while MacDonald appeared in tight quarters as Im Hungry and Yannick Gingras followed Fulton loosely.

When Fulton took off in the homestretch, there was an opening for MacDonald, and he took advantage as Redwood Hanover made up ground quickly and collared the favorite in the shadow of the wire, pacing to a 1:49 mile, the fastest of his career. Fulton held on for second, with early leader Dupree Hanover third.

Sent off as the 4-1 third choice, Redwood Hanover returned $10.20 to win. Owned by Beaton, along with partners Mac Nichol, Mckinlay & Fielding and David Mercer, Redwood Hanover was a winner just once in seven starts as a freshman but has come back strongly.

"He stepped right up," said Beaton following the race. "I was worried at the head of the stretch, but he snuck out."

Redwood Hanover is eligible to the North America Cup.

Annapolis Hanover and David Miller captured the second C$75,000 Somebeachsomewhere split, roaring out of the pocket to go past Bamboozler in the stretch in a career-best 1:49 3/5 mile.

Annapolis Hanover left sharply from post six for Miller and was able to post a comfortable 26 2/5 opening quarter. Dunn, behind Bamboozler, settled him off the action in the opening quarter, but sensing a slow second panel, jetted the Captaintreacherous-sired gelding on a brisk move that saw him clear at the 55 2/5 half-mile clocking. From there it was basically a two-horse affair as Bamboozler sprinted his third quarter in 26 3/5, leaving Ants Marching coverless and not gaining. Miller kept Annapolis Hanover in contact with Bamboozler, and in mid-stretch took the measure of that horse to win going away.

Trained and owned by Mitchell York, Annapolis Hanover was a winner for the third time in 2023 in his first start outside of Pennsylvania. Also a son of Stay Hungry, Annapolis Hanover returned $6.80 to win. Banboozler was second, with Ants Marching a determined third after a tough final half on the rim.

"My plan worked perfectly," said Miller. "He got a little lazy on me on the turn but picked it back up in the stretch."

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Stockade Seelster made a sharp move in the second quarter to take control for Jody Jamieson and went on to an easy score in the final C$75,000 Somebeachsomewhere stanza. Last year's division champion, Stockade Seelster relaxed in the early going as Gung Ho, Santana Hanover and Moment Is Here all went full throttle for the early lead.

Moment Is Here and MacDonald took the measure of being parked three-wide through the 25 3/5 opening quarter before passing Gung Ho. MacDonald slowed the second quarter, allowing the 4-5 Stockade Seelster to breeze to the lead effortlessly with the half in 54 3/5. Once in control, Stockade Seelster kept the pace crisp, hitting three-quarters in 1:22 4/5 and having plenty in reserve, with a 27 2/5 final quarter helping to complete the 1:50 1/5 mile.

Owned by Sally Macdonald and Paul Macdonald, Stockade Seelster is trained by Dr. Ian Moore. As the favorite Stockade Seelster paid $3.90 to win, with Moment Is Here second and Gung Ho third in the mile.

"He was strong at the wire," said Jamieson.

"We're going to have to go a lot faster next week," said Moore, looking ahead to next Saturday's North America Cup trials.