Muskateer Hanover went down the road to win the $37,671 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday, Jan. 1, completing a triple for trainer Jason Johnson.

The race started with a late-night throwdown as four horses contended for early positioning into the first turn. Muskateer Hanover muscled to the lead for Allan Davis, forcing Rocknroll Lou (Ross Wolfenden), Dale Yeah (Tony Morgan) and Itsrockandroll A (Tim Tetrick) to find seats early. Muskateer Hanover had his ears pinned back and was on a mission, setting fractions of :26.2, :54.4, and 1:22.4.

Itsrockandroll A, the 4-5 favourite, braved the chilly elements and started his grind first-over midway down the back straightaway. Wehadababyetzaboy (Jason Thomphson) caught cover second-over, and Downers Delight (Pat Berry) followed behind him. The pack fanned out at the top of the lane with Itsrockandroll A chipping away at the leader, Wehadababyetzaboy gearing up three-wide, Downers Delight four-high and Dale Yeah searched for racing room along the pylons. Muskateer Hanover held off a determined Itsrockandroll A to win by a neck, pacing his mile in 1:51.3. Wehadababyetzaboy was third.

Muskateer Hanover improved his lifetime record to 20 victories in 82 starts with his 2026 debut for owners Mulligan Stables and Calcutta Stable LLC. The six-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Marinade Hanover paid $13.80 to win.

Muskateer Hanover completed a trio of winners for Johnson, who ended the 14-race card atop the Dover standings. The trainer took his first win of 2026 when Memory Makin ($15) scored in the third race, and Tack Room Chatter ($6.20) snagged the seventh dash for his second.

Two of Dover's sharpest pacers carried their win streaks through to the new year as both Tom Horn and Armed Bandit won on the card.

Tom Horn ($2.80) reached double-digit consecutive victories with a comfortable 2-1/4-length win in the $24,658 Winners Over, setting his initial seasonal mark at 1:52.3. Renaissance Deo (Jason Thompson) was second, followed by Joker On Jack (Allan Davis). Tim Tetrick piloted the winning four-year-old son of Cattlewash-Dancinwiththestarz for trainer Wayne Givens and owners Legacy Racing of Delaware Inc., Hazzard Racing Stables, and Amy Penuel. The gelding is now 11-for-36 lifetime.

Armed Bandit ($3.80) had a closer call, but he hung on to beat Mr Three O Five (Tetrick) by an nose for his sixth straight score in 1:51.1. Chip In Blue (Allan Davis) was third. Pat Berry piloted the victorious seven-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Bandolera Hanover gelding to his 17th win in 73 lifetime outings for trainer Traci Berry and owner TLB Racing LLC. 

There is a $1,154 Pick 5 carryover and a Pentafecta carryover worth $2,702 to Monday’s card.

(Bally's Dover & Standardbred Canada)