Harness racing's reigning Horse of the Year, Hannelore Hanover made a statement with an impressive qualifying mile to kick off her 2018 season.

With regular pilot Yannick Gingras at the controls for trainer and co-owner Ron Burke, Hannelore Hanover lined up from the outermost Post 7 in The Meadowlands' sixth qualifier on Saturday (April 21). Hannelore Hanover left strongly and cleared Tuonoblu Rex (Andy Miller) before the opening quarter, reached in :28.3. From there, Hannelore Hanover trotted unchallenged through panels of :57.4 and 1:26.3 before opening up and uncorking a :26.4 final quarter to trip the timer in 1:53.2. Tuonoblu Rex stayed with the trotting titan in the lane and finished just over a length back in second.

Hannelore Hanover won 10 of 17 races in her Horse of the Year season, finished second five times, and earned over $1 million for owners Burke Racing Stable, the Weaver Bruscemi partnership, Frank Baldachino, and J&T Silva Stables. For her career, the daughter of Swan For All out of High Sobriety has won 36 of 58 races and more than $2.6 million. She is scheduled to make her first start of 2018 in the upcoming Cutler Memorial on May 5.

Things got underway with the sophomore daughter of Donato Hanover What A Knockout taking the first with Marcus Melander driving in 1:56.2 for owners Our Horse Cents Stable and J&T Silva.

Race 2 saw the Chapter Seven filly Seven Karats (Scott Zeron) convert a pocket ride in a 1:57 mile. The winner is trained by Linda Toscano for Ken Jacobs. Lima Novelty (Corey Callahan) also from the Toscano barn was second.

Don (Andy Miller) took the first of the three-year-old colt trots in 1:56, converting a perfect pocket ride behind Maxus (Yannick Gingras). The New York-bred son of Credit Winner is trained by Julie Miller for the home team Andy Miller Stable and Little E, LLC. NYSS final winner Six Pack (Svanstedt) had good late trot to be third.

Svanstedt steered Gemologist to an impressive 1:57 win in the fourth. After leaving to the front early, Gemologist was reserved to let U Need Stones (Gingras) take over as they passed the half in 1:00.1 then edged by that game rival under minimal urging for the win while Helpisontheway (Tim Tetrick) was sneaky good late to be third. Lennart Agren’s SRF Stable owns the winner, a Cantab Hall colt.

Dont Press Send (Andy McCarthy) looked sharp this morning, setting all the fractions and winning well in hand in 1:57.2 with Eurobound (Domenico Cecere) closing nicely to be second. The winner is a Chapter Seven colt trained by Lucas Wallin for Reima Antero Kuisla.

Crazy Wow (David Miller) also got back to work with a solid front-end effort in 1:54.2, holding the pocket sitter Caprice Hill (Gingras) at bay late to win. He’s another Burke barn double-millionaire who also has a full slate of stakes on his docket starting with the Cutler. Our Horse Cents, Stable 45, Silva and Deo Volente own the winner.

Pacing races commenced with the eighth where the three-year-old filly Betterthanbrie won by a widening five-length margin as she pleased in a visually-impressive effort. She led early for driver Josert Fonseca, yielded by the :57 half and then roared by with a 28-second closing quarter to end the mile in 1:52.3. The Betterthancheddar lass hails from the Jimmy Takter barn and is a homebred owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding and Goran Anderberg.

Babes Dig Me was sharp in his first go of the new year with an off-the-pace score for Brett Miller in 1:52.3 off a hot pace. He surged to the lead mid-stretch then held off This Is The Plan (Tetrick) in the final strides of the 29-second last quarter. Tony Alagna trains the Somebeachsomewhere colt for Brad Grant, Joe Sbrocco, Rob LeBlanc along with John Fodera and Steve Wienick racing as In The Gym Partners.

Sophomore Somebeachsomewhere colt Decoy (D. Miller) was really impressive with a come-from-behind 1:51.2 win over the four-year-old Boogie Shuffle (A. Miller). Seeing Eye Single (Gingras) also went well in here.

It was a strong field of three-year-old colt pacers assembled for the 11th, and Captain Deo (Brett Miller) threaded through them late to get the 1:53 win. Dorsoduro Hanover (Gingras) gave way grudgingly late after cutting the mile and Major Authority (Jason Bartlett) held for third. Tony Alagna trains him as well for Alagna Racing, Sbrocco, In The Gym and Captain Deo Partners.

A powerful group of older pacers teed it up in the 12th and final race of the day resulting in the fastest mile of 1:50.4 recorded by Blood Line, afforded a perfect trip by Brett Miller. He pounced on mile cutter Blue Moon Stride (Callahan) as they turned for home and edged away in a :27.2 final panel. Filibuster Hanover (Gingras) closed to be second. Takter trains the winner for Diamond Creek Racing.

To view the charts from Saturday morning's qualifying session, click the following link: Saturday Qualifiers - Meadowlands Racetrack.

(with files from Meadowlands)