Just as he did in last week’s top test for representatives of the lateral gait, the favourite Arockin Hanover saved the best for last and secured a 1:51.2 victory in the final $12,000 Open Pace of the 60th anniversary season at Vernon Downs on Saturday night.
Truman Gale did the teaming for trainer Jason Robinson in Saturday’s 10th event, as Arockin Hanover laid back in fifth-place while the speedy JK Panache paced the solid seven-horse field through splits of :26.1, :55.1 and 1:24.1 through three-quarters of the mile. Taking the overland route from fifth-place on the backstretch, Arockin Hanover rallied to get the lead at the top of the stretch and then accelerated away from his six speedy foes to defeat Western Tsunami by nearly three lengths.
Saturday’s come-from-behind score marked the third win in succession (second at the Downs), the ninth this season and the 21st all time for the five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Artaffection, who has rustled up more than $100,000 in 33 starts this year for owner Robert D. Main. His career bankroll currently stands at $383,133.
John MacDonald delivered four driving victories during Saturday’s 13-race card, while chauffeur Claude Huckabone III posted a driving triple, and trainer John McNeil III a double.
Rick Plano repeated as the winningest driver (130 scores) and trainer (51 tallies) during the 88-program meeting. Gary Clark emerged as the leading provisional pilot.
The trotter Ziegler Hanover was the meet’s winningest equine with 10 triumphs, while the pacer Hot Cowboy led his gait with seven scores.
Thirteen track records (seven on the diagonal gait and six on the pace) were reset or tied during the meet, which began on April 12. The season’s swiftest pacing mile was a 1:49 performance by Pontiac Luck on Aug. 31, while a brilliant 1:51 effort by Intimidate in the season’s Credit Winner Open on Sept. 6 was the fastest trotting mile in the track’s history.
(Vernon Downs)