Easy Lover Hanover extended his win streak to nine and sent a statement to the sport’s top older pacers Saturday, May 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Ben Wallace-trained five-year-old came from off the pace to capture Saturday’s $34,000 Preferred Pace in a career-best 1:48.1.

Driven by Doug McNair, Easy Lover Hanover got away fourth in a field of five. Veteran Nirvana Seelster was sent to the front by driver Trevor Henry and posted hot fractions of :26.2, :54 and 1:21.2.

There was no movement from the field until McNair moved Easy Lover Hanover to the outside approaching three-quarters.

In the lane, Easy Lover Hanover unleashed a furious rally and charged by his rivals in impressive fashion with a :26 kicker to grab his third win of the season and ninth-consecutive overall.

Ellis Park, who followed Easy Lover Hanover right from the start, also paced a huge final-quarter, timed in :25.3, and stayed on the tail of the winner to finish second, beat three-parts of a length.

Nirvana Seelster settled for third, while Fine Diamond and Fool Me Once rounded out the field.

Owned by Brad Grant, Easy Lover Hanover had quickly earned $51,000 in three starts this season, while bringing his career-earnings north of $630,000. His career-best victory Saturday was the 28th score career for the five-year-old gelding.

Easy Lover Hanover’s clocking of 1:48.1 established a North American season’s best and is the first sub-1:49 mile of the year. His previous career-mark was 1:49.

The Wallace trainee battled the sport’s top older pacers on a few occasions last season and more than held his own. He finished his four-year-old season with six straight wins in Woodbine’s top class and his three wins this season now give him an unheard of nine-consecutive Preferred scores.

Easy Lover Hanover is staked to many notable events this season, including the Canadian Pacing Derby. He paid $2.90 to win.

Artistic Madison pulled off a massive upset as the second longest shot on the board in the $30,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred, winning by a neck in 1:53 at odds of 38-1.

Jonathan Drury positioned the seven-year-old Artistic Fella mare seventh as P L Hurricane led through a :26.4 opening quarter. Artistic Madison soon entered the two-wide flow from fourth over while Exhilarated, from third, brushed to the lead heading to the half, timed in :56.

Artistic Madison sat five lengths off the lead from third over at three quarters while Exhilarated battled first-over Lay Lady Lay through a 1:24.1 clip. The field bunched wide into the stretch, with Circle The Page, the even-money favourite, swooping into contention from second over and Artistic Madison widest of all. At the line, Artistic Madison edged past Circle The Page, with Lay Lady Lay close in third.

Owned by James Downer, Artistic Madison, trained by Carmen Auciello, won her fourth race in 14 starts this season and her 28th in 119 overall, earning $382,840. She paid $79.20 to win.

(With files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.