Millionaire pacer Hyperion Hanover, driven by Stephane Lareau, upset the applecart on Saturday night at Pompano Park with an upset 19-1 victory in the featured Winners Over Pace.
The senior citizen in the field at 10 years old, Hyperion Hanover sat in the cozy pocket behind pacesetting B N Bad, handled by Bruce Ranger, through panels of :26.4, :56 and 1:24.1. Hyperion Hanover then left the garden spot turning for home and edged by B N Bad, off at 3-5 on the toteboard, in the final stages to win by a half-length in 1:52.4. Oh My Joepa (Tom Sells) finished third, Neptune Blue Chip (Andy Santeramo) was fourth and Hurrikane Scotty J (Matt Romano) picked up the nickel.
In a post race interview, Lareau said, “C’etait un voyage de reve. C’etait aussi simple que ca!,” meaning "It was a dream journey. It was as simple as that."
Lareau went on to say, “This is a very classy horse. You don’t win a million dollars on the track if you don’t have some sort of class and he still has it -- even at this age. Pretty amazing!”
Trained by Jim McDonald for the S S G Stables, Hyperion Hanover, who sports a 1:49.1 mark to go along with his millionaire status, now has seven wins this year and 47 lifetime.
The win added $5,000 to the pacer’s bankroll, now at $1,233,776, and $41.20 to any backers who plunked $2 on his nose.
Lareau’s victory came in the eighth race on the card -- the first half of the late Daily Double. In the very next event, Lareau completed the Daily Double sweep with a win aboard Diamond Master. The $2 Daily Double payoff was $587.
(With files from Pompano Park)