The horse that turned heads with his cold-weather prowess one year ago, Ervin Hanover has developed into an all-season superstar and is poised to provide trainer David Menary with his first Breeders Crown trophy.
At the end of 2024, Ervin Hanover uncorked multiple miles in the 1:47 range at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Shut down in mid-December, Ervin Hanover left onlookers speculating as to what he'd have in store for an encore in 2025.
Menary had an inkling from those limited starts.
"First time I trained him, I was really excited about him. I thought it was the best horse I've been sent in a long time," said Menary. "We really didn't have him long enough to get the ball rolling, but when he came back in the fall and the weather was cool, he really caught fire....He came home in :25.1 (on Dec. 14) and (driver) Louis (-Philippe Roy) told me he thought he could have come :24.2 just as easy. We had a lot to look forward to heading into this year."
As a five-year-old in 2025, Ervin Hanover started the year with consistent showings in a number of stakes events. Placed the winner in the 2025 Camluck Classic, the five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous - Eloquent Grace picked up two wins in his first six starts. Since the start of August, however, Ervin Hanover has been the kingpin of his division with six wins in seven starts, with his only loss coming by a head in the 2025 Canadian Pacing Derby.
Heading into Saturday's $600,000 USD Breeders Crown final, Ervin Hanover sports a seasonal summary of 9-1-1 in 15 starts with $751,000 in earnings for Menary and owner Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pa. He's the 2-1 morning line favourite in that heavyweight tilt, drawing post five with Dexter Dunn tabbed to drive. Dunn and Ervin Hanover quickly became acquainted last week in the Breeders Crown elimination, with regular pilot Louis-Philippe Roy sticking with 2024 O'Brien Award winner Nijinsky.
"Louie had to make a tough call," noted Menary. "We were monitoring that all the way along with Nijinsky. I can't blame him if the shoe was on the other foot, and my horse had that much history, I'd expect him to stick with him.
"When you're heading into the Breeders Crown, Dexter's track record's pretty good. We're lucky to have him, and hopefully it works out."
Pretty good might be selling Dunn's track record a little short. Making his first Breeders Crown final start in 2019, Dunn has quickly ascended the standings among drivers in Breeders Crown competition. In 67 starts in Breeders Crown finals, he sports a record of 21-8- 8 with a 0.419 UDRS. His 21 championship trophies in just six years of opportunity place him eighth all-time in Breeders Crown history.
Menary discusses what makes Ervin Hanover such a solid competitor, his thoughts on Saturday's Breeders Crown final, what's left for the speedster this year and his plans for 2026 in this informative interview with Standardbred Canada's Jeff Porchak. To watch and listen, click the play button below.
Here's the full field for the 2025 Breeders Crown Open Pace:
$600,000 USD Breeders Crown Open Pace
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Odds
1. Coach Stefanos - James MacDonald - Erv Miller - 25-1
2. Ken Hanover - David Miller - Roland Mallar - 5-2
3. Captain Albano - Todd McCarthy - Noel Daley - 4-1
4. Calicojack Hanover - Bob McClure - Luc Blais - 20-1
5. Ervin Hanover - Dexter Dunn - David Menary - 2-1
6. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom - 15-1
7. Maximus Miki - Scott Zeron - Thomas Cancelliere - 8-1
8. Nijinsky - Louis-Philippe Roy - Anthony Beaton - 5-1
9. Oakwood Ardan IR - Jordan Stratton - Robert Cleary - 25-1
10. Huntinthelastdolar - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom - 25-1
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Mohawk Park // Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
(Standardbred Canada)