Sophomore stakes winner Apprentice Hanover continued his late season surge on Saturday night and scored a perfect pocket trip to deliver as the favourite in this week's $34,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack.

The winner of the $126,000 Cleveland Classic last time out on Dec. 14 and in search of his fourth win in a row, Apprentice Hanover was sent postward as the 2-1 favourite in the evening's featured 10th race.

Driver Jody Jamieson fired the Somebeachsomewhere colt to the lead from post six through a :26.4 opening quarter, but gave way to the oncoming Modern Legend (Jack Moiseyev) into the backstretch.

Making his first start since finishing fifth in The Meadowlands' TVG Free-For-All one month ago, Modern Legend led the field through middle splits of :56 and 1:25 with Sparky Mark (Anthony MacDonald) advancing first over.

As Modern Legend rounded the final turn, Apprentice Hanover slipped up the inside and surged by down the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:52.3. Casimir Jitterbug (James MacDonald) came on for second while Modern Legend settled for third. Mystician (Billy Davis Jr.) and Sparky Mark earned the final paycheques in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Apprentice Hanover paid $6.10 to win as the 2-1 favourite.

The victory was his sixth in 19 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings to $247,449 and career bankroll over the half-million dollar mark for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.

Ben Wallace trains the colt, whose summer stakes campaign was hindered by a stomach ulcer.

The fastest mile of the night was posted by millionaire pacer Alsace Hanover ($10.60), who won the previous race in 1:50.4 by five lengths with Doug McNair driving. The five-year-old The Panderosa gelding is owned by Toronto's John Fielding and is conditioned by Tony O'Sullivan, who ended the night with a training triple. O'Sullivan also scored a pair of close wins with the Jamieson-driven Frankies Dragon ($3) and Brees Creek ($3.90) with Chris Christoforou in the bike.

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