Union Man Hanover, already a winner during the summer-fall meet, looks to double up when New York Bred Late Closers for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings take place Wednesday night
(Oct. 5) at Batavia Downs Casino.
There are three Late Closers carded. The first two offer purse money of $12,200 while the final division goes for $12,300. Post time for the Wednesday night card of harness racing is 6:40 p.m.
Back on August 31, Union Man Hanover, leaving from the rail, briefly relinquished the lead, moved back to the front at the three-eighths pole and then held on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1, taking a $40,056 New York Sire Stakes event. Greg Merton, who was in town to drive, picks up the return call for trainer Linda Toscano.
Union Man Hanover, an Artiscape-Up Front Rose colt, is owned by Stake Your Claim Stables, Bay’s Stable and D.J. Baer. He’s earned $56,613 in 10 freshman starts and heads to Western New York off back-to-back Late Closer wins at Vernon and Monticello. He’ll start from post seven in the second race of the evening and has been installed as the 7-5 morning line favourite.
While the second race may be a single for early Daily Double players, the opener is a bit of a head scratcher.
The win machine Wright Road will get some attention. He too was a winner at the Downs earlier this season when he won the $8,000 New York Sire Stakes County Fair Final in 1:59.1 by five widening lengths for trainer Tommy Garcia. The Pan Cartwright-For The Road colt is a 10-time winner in 18 starts. John Cummings, Jr. picks up the catch drive. They drew post four.
Starting from post five is the American Ideal-Little Betty colt Ideal Griff. He looks to repeat after breaking his maiden in the slop at Monticello in his first try against Late Closer company in 2:00.4. Trainer Steve Elliott calls on the services of Ray Fisher, Jr.
Another American Ideal colt, Ideal Affair, looked to be one of the top colts in the division after a 2:00.3 maiden win at Buffalo Raceway back in June, but he’s had his share of excuses and looks to turn it around for trainer Jim Graham and Downs leading reinsman Jack Flanigen. They drew the rail.
Race seven completes the Late Closer action and it appears to be a two horse race on paper.
Wearing head number five but starting from post four is Alex Shredder. He comes off a narrow defeat at Monticello to Wright Road and starts out as the 5-2 morning line favourite. The Artiscape-Mama Nukes gelding is a two-time winner and sports a 1:56.3 mark set at Vernon Downs. Jim McNeight drives for trainer Erv Miller.
Artillery Major (Art Major-Long Island Lotita) ships to America’s oldest lighted harness track off an odds-on score at Monticello. The Linda Toscano trainee is also a two-time winner and leads the field in earnings with more than $28,000. Brandon Simpson, who sat behind the colt last time out, will be back in the sulky. They wear head number six but start from post five.
The 2011 stakes season comes to an end Saturday night with the ninth annual $40,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial. Entries for the Kane Memorial will be drawn Wednesday.
(Batavia Downs)