After starting his sophomore season with three straight victories, wins have been hard to come by for Abuckabett Hanover. But the son of Betting Line was sent off as the 2/5 choice in the $176,815 Simcoe for three-year-old pacers on Saturday (Sept. 18) at Woodbine Mohawk Park and he looked like a 1/9 shot by virtue of an open length score.

Driver Andy McCarthy was in no hurry at the start of the mile, situating mid-pack as Lancaster Bomber (Dexter Dunn) parked Bettor Sun (Doug McNair) through a :26.4 opening panel. Once Bettor Sun settled on the lead heading for the half, Highlandbeachsbest (Louis-Philippe Roy) started the outer flow from fifth. McCarthy had Abuckabett Hanover on his helmet and advanced overland, but didn't have cover for long as Highlandbeachsbest cleared just after the :54.4 half.

Abuckabett Hanover continued his first-over attack on Highlandbeachsbest, landing on the lead around the turn as the third station was reached in 1:22.1. Turning for home, Abuckabett Hanover sprinted away from his rivals, leaving closest contender Pirate Hanover (Jody Jamieson) in his wake some six lengths behind after a career-mark matching 1:49.1 performance.

"I was trying to push him off [the gate] a little bit but I'm always just a little cautious those first five steps off the gate with him. He really behaved himself tonight and got out of there good. They were moving along early so I just figured I'd follow Louis up there and see what happened," said McCarthy. "He doesn't mind first over as long as it's not too long of a grind. The trip worked out and he definitely bravened right up once he got to the collar of Louis' horse in the last turn."

McCarthy agreed with the assessment from Mohawk's Chad Rozema that his results as of late haven't necessarily aligned with his performances.

"He definitely needed that tonight. He's had a lot of bad luck, kind of got taken out in the middle of the Meadowlands Pace and then things just haven't gone right since," said McCarthy. "He knows what his job is and I think a nice win like that tonight will definitely do him some good."

Tony Alagna trains Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line - All Tucked Up) for Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, N.Y., Alagna Racing LLC of Manalapan, N.J., Jablonsky Held Stable and Barbera N Wienick Stable of Deer Park, N.Y. Now a six-time winner this season and 10-time winner lifetime, Abuckabett Hanover sports a career bankroll of $432,072.

The Simcoe was part of a stakes-packed program at Woodbine Mohawk Park headlined by the Canadian Trotting Classic. Read all the recaps in the Mohawk Saturday Stakes News Centre.