Wakizashi Hanover, the 2015 Pepsi North America Cup winner, was victorious in a qualifier this morning (Wednesday, February 15) at Dover Downs.

The five-year-old Dragon Again gelding hosted his regular pilot, Tim Tetrick in the sulky, and the pair took a stalking approach after having started from Post 7.

The duo was fourth at the opening quarter (:28.3) and third at the half (:58.3) before being first-up in second at the three-quarters pole (1:26.3).

Tetrick and ‘Wakizashi’ fired home with a :26.4 final quarter to post a one-length lead over the pacesetting McKenry (driven by Bret Brittingham) for trainer Jim King Jr.

The Wednesday qualifying performance was Wakizashi’s first charted mile since December 29, 2016.

The career winner of $1.4 million in career purses underway a pair of surgeries in 2016. King’s comments on the surgeries can by read by clicking here.

The Dover qualifying session featured seven races in total. The other races were won by Purrfect Bags (1:56.3), Wind Of The North (1:55.3), Starskys Dream N (1:54.1), Qs Cruise (1:59.3), Bettoriffic (1:59.4) and Nike Franco N (1:55.1).

In total, pupils from King’s outfit won five of the morning’s qualifying dashes, while Tetrick steered four winners.