Rewarding Return To Fall Four Finals

On Saturday, Governor's Cup elimination winner Pierce Hanover will give trainer and co-owner Ken Sucee a second serious shot at a Fall Four Final win. This time around, he'll be able to enjoy the race in person and in full health.

In 2007, Sucee was hospitalized with an extreme bout of pancreatitis that placed him in intensive care for several weeks. This illness came just after his brother Ralph, who co-owns Pierce Hanover with Ken, was released from hospital after a tractor trailer accident east of Toronto nearly claimed Ralph's life. Sucee recruited Kurt Hughes to manage his stable, and Hughes filled in admirably as Sucee's filly Arts Diva was a winner in her elimination of the Three Diamonds and finished second to A And Gs Confusion in the final.

One year later Hughes faced a life-threatening situation of his own, suffering serious spinal cord injuries in an automobile accident. The Sucee brothers and Paul MacDonell spearheaded an online fundraiser for Hughes that raised more than $60,000.

Fast forward to 2014. Sucee, now diabetic as a result of the pancreatitis, is back in the Fall Four with another elim winner, pacing colt Pierce Hanover. Sucee picked up the colt at the 2013 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Given the pedigree, Sucee was thrilled to see the son of Cams Card Shark - Panned Out at the sale.

"Actually, I went down for a Bettors Delight colt that Hanover had in, and it brought too much money," Sucee told Trot Insider. "I've always loved that family. Blair Burgess had Passmaster Hanover and 'Friday' Dean had Panther Hanover, and they had good success with them. The family usually sold at Harrisburg so I was quite surprised to see him there."

Pierce Hanover is a full brother to 2009 New Jersey Classic winner Passmaster Hanover and Open class competitor Philos Hanover, in addition to being a half-brother to speedy stakes winner Panther Hanover.

"He was on the list," Sucee continued. "Hanover told me that this was the biggest colt the mare had ever had so I was shocked that I got him for $38,000....the mare's best offspring have been by Cams Card Shark but that hadn't been done for a number of years.

"I only put two bids on him, and I got him. I thought I was going to have to go higher, which I was going to do."

Sold as Pradeep Hanover, Sucee changed the name to Pierce Hanover after driver Ron Pierce. Coincidentally, that's not the only horse named after Ron Pierce as Hanover Shoe Farms also sold Piercewave Hanover in 2013.

Sucee notes that his colt impressed him early on, calling him a "total professional.". The trainer was impressed enough by his colt's abilities to consider a extensive staking schedule with his brother and co-owner, Ralph.

"To be honest, I've only staked two horses to this extent. The other was Arts Diva."

Pierce Hanover certainly hasn't disappointed the Sucees. Early on, he won his Dream Maker elim, finishing third in the final, and followed that up with a third-place finish in his Metro elim -- behind Metro champ Artspeak and the other Governor's Cup elim winner Lyons Again. A victim of "poor flow" in the Metro final, finishing sixth, it's the only cheque Pierce Hanover has missed. Ironically, it was also his fastest mile, individually timed in 1:51.4.

"He showed me in January that he was a total professional. He had the size, and he had the gait."

Pierce Hanover's most recent effort was also a lifetime best, winning his Governor's Cup elim in 1:52.1 under less-than-ideal conditions.

Sucee admitted that his horse might not be the fastest in the division, but his early lessons have been geared toward him carrying his speed a bit better. Pierce Hanover showed his trainer that kind of effort with his gutsy first-up win in his Governor's Cup elimination.

"I have said it before, and people laughed, but if you look at his big wins he loves coming first up. He is tenacious. That head-to-head, first up racing, that's his forté.

To prep for Saturday's rich final, Sucee isn't changing anything regarding Pierce Hanover's training regimen. He'll jog two trips on Thursday with Sucee seeing no need to get him any sharper.

"He's got so many miles in him now, and if you watch the end of that race, Jody couldn't pull him up. He was at the half-mile pole of the backstretch before he pulled up; there's no end to him. He's a freight train."

The $565,000 Governor's Cup Final is set for the seventh race on Saturday's card at Woodbine Racetrack, with Pierce Hanover leaving from Post 2 for Jamieson. The other elim winner, Lyons Again is beside him in Post 3. Like most, Sucee still feels the horse the beat is divisional money leader, Artspeak in Post 6.

"I think the rest of us are all equal, and he's just a cut above," said Sucee in reference to Artspeak. "I'm looking forward to it but we'll need a lot of help."

Sucee has turned down numerous offers to purchase the pacing colt, noting that he and his brother Ralph are "50/50 on every decision" and don't plan on selling. Feeling his colt is still improving, Sucee plans on racing Pierce Hanover in the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands next month.

"[Ralph's] been at it for 30 years and right now he's enjoying the ride of his life."

Race 7 – Governors Cup – Purse: $565,000
(Post – Horse - Driver)
1. Lancaster Park – James MacDonald
2. Pierce Hanover – Jody Jamieson
3. Lyons Again – Yannick Gingras
4. Arque Hanover – Steve Condren
5. Lost For Words – Doug McNair
6. Artspeak – Scott Zeron
7. Go Daddy Go – Corey Callahan
8. Migrate Blue Chip – Rick Zeron
9. Blood Brother – Sylvain Filion
10. Traceur Hanover – Randy Waples
AE: Lyons Levi Lewis – Sylvain Filion

The Governor's Cup is one of four races set for Saturday night hat Woodbine that will feature the finest two-year-olds in harness racing. The $565,000 Governors Cup, the $521,000 Valley Victory, the $464,000 Goldsmith Maid and the $424,000 Three Diamonds make up the Fall Four Stakes, highlighting a $2.1-million card.

To view the entries for Saturday's rich card, click one of the following links:

Saturday Entries – Woodbine Racetrack -- Saturday Program Pages - Woodbine Racetrack.