Left uncovered midway up the backstretch, Tribbett Racing's Layton Hanover sustained an overland attack to overpower 2-1 favourite Captain Hansen and stave off a late charge from Lous Starr for a 10-1 upset in the $16,901 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday, Oct. 20.
Roger Plante Jr. angled Layton Hanover second-over behind Captain Hansen (Russell Foster) heading to a :55.2 half. As Captain Hansen worked clear of Winbak Willy T (Lucas Myers) midway up the backstretch, Layton Hanover continued his ascent first-over, duelled down Captain Hansen at the eighth pole and dug in to fend off a three-wide Lous Starr (Justin Vincent) to win by a neck in a seasonal best 1:51.1. A Major Attitude (Justin Walters) rallied from third-over position to take third, another 1-3/4 lengths behind.
Andrew Fulton trains Layton Hanover, who paid $22 to win. The six-year-old Captaintreacherous-Livin Life gelding earned his first victory in four starts since joining Fulton's stable last month and is now a career winner of 22 races and more than $680,000.
Plante and Russell Foster led all drivers with three wins apiece on the 13-race card. Jonathan Roberts and Ryder Skinner both fashioned doubles.
Live harness racing resumes at Rosecroft on Thursday, Oct. 23 with two carryovers: $300.56 in the Pick-5 (Races 3-7) and $545.30 in the Jackpot Hi-5 (Race 10). First post is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway; photo of Layton Hanover from a previous win)