Actor Hanover, who played "second fiddle" to both Maxdaddy Blue Chip and My House during his last three starts in Pompano Park's Open Handicap Pace, finally forged his way to the "leading" role on Sunday (Dec. 12) and won the $14,200 feature event.
Owned, trained and driven by Kevin Wallis, the five-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous led from first long stride to the final one, stopping the timer in a lifetime best 1:50.2. He won by one length over When You Dance (Wally Hennessey) with Prairie Panther (Braxten Boyd) third, 2-1/4 lengths away. Maxdaddy Blue Chip finished fourth while Normandy Beach picked up the nickel. Favoured My House, beginning from the outside post, spotted the leader almost 10 lengths at the start and could never join the fray.
Off fractions of :27 and :55.1 through the opening half, Wallis let his charge ramble through a backside panel of :27.3 while thwarting any thoughts of a serious challenge developing, reaching the third station in 1:22.4 before a :27.3 finale sealed the deal, propelling the winner's lifetime bankroll over the $200,000 plateau -- $201,100 to be precise.
"There didn't seem to be anyone else interested in leaving all that much so I decided to take the path of least resistance and he really raced very well," said the humble Wallis after the event. "I was, of course, proud of his mile and he did all the work. All I did was steer!"
Actor Hanover now sports a 4-7-4 scorecard in his 39 starts, good for seasonal earnings of $66,410. Off as the 3-1 second choice, he paid $8.60 to win.
The $12,600 Open II Pace went to Scootnroll, with 21-year-old Braxten Boyd handling his lines.
The four-year-old altered son of Roll With Joe, off at 3-5, took charge with a quarter move to reach the lead under the line the first time and, after Statement A (Hennessey) took the field to the :27.3 opener, sauntered through subsequent panels of :56.1 and 1:24.3 before a sharp :27 finale brought him to the line timed in 1:51.3. Agedchedar Hanover (John MacDonald), well back early, staged a huge double-bubble rally beginning three-eighths from the wire and finished second, one length away. Statement Made A did finish third over Villiam and Art Scene in the field of seven.
Trained by John Hallett for Geoffrey and Rick Howles, Scootnroll won for the ninth time this semester in 39 starts, sending his earnings for 2021 to $78,111.
The $11,000 Open III Pace produced the fastest mile of the night as Busboy Hanover, with John MacDonald in his sulky, led, virtually, gate-to-wire in 1:51, off panels of :26.4, :54.4 and 1:22.1.
Busboy Hanover's stablemate, Lincoln James (Hennessey), closed along the pylons to finish second, 1-3/4 lengths back, with Panocchio (Joe Chindano Jr.) third. Rocksapatriot was fourth while Hard Rock Hulk, closing fastest of all, finished fifth to get the final award in the sharp octet.
Busboy Hanover, trained by Tee Wine for the Wine Stable, now has a dozen wins for the season with his yearly bounty piercing the $100,000 mark at $101,756. He paid $3.60 to his multitude of faithful.
Senior citizens -- both human and equine -- were served well on Sunday night as Rick Plano, celebrating his 70th birthday, got a consecutive double with 10-year-old Brilliant Strike N ($4.20) and 12-year-old Hot Art ($3.40), both owned by Maryann Plano.
Brilliant Strike N, a son of Shadow Play, scored in 1:51.3 for his 10th win of the year, pushing his 2021 bankroll to $51,662 and Hot Art followed 20 minutes later with his 61st career win -- 14th of the year -- in 1:51.1.
Racing continues of Monday night with a competitive nine-race program featuring a $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (12 per cent takeout) and a ballooning Super Hi-5 jackpot standing at $14,858. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)