Donato Hanover, the dominant 3-year-old trotter, won harness racing's biggest prize Saturday, the $1.5 million Hambletonian before 26,115 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Driven by Ron Pierce, Donato Hanover ($4) beat Adrian Chip by 1 1/4 lengths with Laddie third. The time for the mile was 1:53.40.
Donato Hanover ran third in his debut last year. He has not lost since, stretching the winning steak to 13.
Donato Hanover took charge down the backstretch in a race with very little pace that went in 58.40 seconds for the first half-mile.