Is He 'All' Sportswriter Can Handle?

Published: October 24, 2009 12:23 pm EDT

If the race is to the swift, it is nice to be all speed

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All Speed Hanover is coming off back-to-back stakes wins at the Red Mile in Lexington and has won four of six races this season. On Saturday, he will look to upset undefeated Sportswriter in the $720,860 Breeders Crown for two-year-old colt pacers. He will start from post six for trainer Mike Vanderkemp and driver Ron Pierce, who, by the way, has 19 Crown trophies to his credit.

In his most recent performance on October 9, All Speed Hanover won by two lengths over world-record-holder One More Laugh in 1:50.3 mile in a division of the International Stallion Stakes. In doing so, he might have stamped himself the “wise-guy horse” in the Breeders Crown.

“He’s got a great gait to him. I think he just needs a little bit of luck and he should be right there,” Vanderkemp said. “His trips in Lexington were outstanding.”

Vanderkemp, who has won Breeders Crown titles with Mr Muscleman and My Little Dragon, trained All Speed Hanover during the winter and spring before turning him over to Noel Daley. Once All Speed Hanover started to mind his manners, he made an impression on Vanderkemp.

“It wasn’t until late February when I got an idea of how good he was,” said Vanderkemp, who handles Daley’s horses in Canada. “He was always a handful; he would always throw his head and was hard to control the first few months. He always paced good, but he would always screw around. Once he got to behaving himself, he showed he was better than the rest.”

All Speed Hanover (Cams Card Shark-Allamerican Cool) was purchased as a yearling for $60,000. He is a half brother to 2004 Bluegrass division winner Allamerican Coed and his mother, Allamerican Cool, is a half sister to three-time Breeders Crown champ – and richest female pacer in history – Eternal Camnation.

The colt is owned by the Adam Victor & Son Stable and John Fielding.

While several Breeders Crown contenders like Sportswriter and Malicious competed at Woodbine Sunday in a prep race, All Speed Hanover is entering the final off a layoff. Vanderkemp was not concerned about All Speed Hanover being unraced over the Woodbine surface.

“The time off was more valuable. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble with the track,” said Vanderkemp, who also will send out Cannae Cammie and Casino Nights in the Breeders Crown for two-year-old filly pacers. “He’s doing great. He’s eating great and put a little bit of weight on. He’s really feeling good and he trained super.”

The Score will air a special three-hour presentation across Canada of this 25th anniversary (26th edition) of harness racing's Breeders Crown, from 8:00 - 11:00 pm ET and will telecast seven Crown races live.

For Saturday's entries, click here. To view the entries on TrackIT in past performance format, click here.

(with files from the Breeders Crown)

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