Placed third over around the final turn, Shower Play fanned to the center of the course and powered past 7/5 favourite and late-race leader Kissin In The Sand to take the $415,000 Fan Hanover Final in 1:50.2 on Saturday, June 16 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Ubettorgo Go went to the lead, outsprinting Kendall Seelster to the quarter in :26.1 while Alexis Faith got away third. Alexis Faith soon edged from the rail first over approaching the half and cleared control from Ubettorgo Go in :54.3.
Just Her Luck supplied cover to Kissin In The Sand moving into the final turn with Shower Play also following from third over. Alexis Faith maintained a half-length lead on Just Her Luck past three-quarters in 1:22.3 while Kissin In The Sand fanned three wide and Shower Play farther on the track.
Kissin In The Sand took the lead from Alexis Faith pacing through the stretch, with Sudden Passing splitting horses late and Kendall Seelster taking a bad step in between rivals and retreating from contention. Louis Philippe-Roy and Shower Play swooped by horses in the final sixteenth and collected the victory with Kissin In The Sand second, Sudden Passing third and Alexis Faith fourth.
Owned by trainer Rene Dion along with partners Susie Kerwood and Martin Leveillee, Shower Play, a filly by Shadow Play from the Bettors Delight mare Alice Emily, won her second race in three starts this season and her fifth in eight starts overall, earning $262,462. She paid $8.20 to win.
The Fan Hanover was part of a stakes-packed card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park on 2018 Pepsi North America Cup night. Check out the rest of the recaps in the 2018 North America Cup News Centre.