Wakizashi Hanover had just enough to score in the $30,000 Preferred Pace on the final Thursday program of the 2016 season at Dover Downs.

The combination of Wakizashi Hanover, one of last season’s top sophomore pacers, and leading driver Tim Tetrick paid off with a nose victory in 1:52. The four-year-old gelding, who won nearly $1.3-million in 2015 including the Pepsi North America Cup en route to an O'Brien Award as Canada's Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year, battled throat problems when training back early this year. Finally the altered son of Dragon Again-Western Gesture has returned to top form of late with two wins, three seconds and a third, all in photo finishes in his last seven starts for Nova Scotia-based owners Bruce Kennedy and Tri County Stable.

In this week’s Preferred, Tetrick guided Wakizashi Hanover to the lead after the opening quarter and then held off a surging Sweet Rock (Allan Davis) at the wire with Bettors Edge (Matt Kakaley) a close-up third. Bushwacker (Corey Callahan) thundered down the lane to finish fourth.

Defending champion Corey Callahan led all drivers with three wins. Montrell Teague, Vic Kirby, George Dennis, Jim Morand and trainer Dylan Davis had two winners each.

Dover Downs, its management and horsemen wish all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. The 2017 portion of the meet begins on Monday, Jan. 2.

(with files from Dover)