Three-year-old pacing colt Aracache Hanover led from start to finish holding off favourite One More Laugh in the stretch to capture the $200,000 Windy City Pace for Ontario trainer Gregg McNair at Maywood Park on Friday
night.
Leaving from the inside post position, Aracache Hanover and driver Doug McNair took command with Razzle Dazzle (John Campbell) settling in the pocket and 4-5 favourite One More Laugh (Tim Tetrick) tucking into third from a Post 7 start.
Aracache Hanover, who finished second to One More Laugh in last weekend's American National at Balmoral Park, raced to the first quarter in :26.4 and the half in :55.2. At that point, Razzle Dazzle pulled the pocket and then applied pressure past three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Down the stretch, Aracache Hanover dug in while One More Laugh shot up the rail. Fighting all the way to the wire, Aracache Hanover hung on for the 1:51.4 score. One More Laugh was right there for second with the winner’s stablemate, Stonebridge Tonic (Dave Magee), coming on for third.
"He's a little tricky leaving, I had to be careful with him once the wings folded. He was good when he got to the first turn. He's a great gaited horse, great on a half," said Doug McNair in the winner's circle.
"I think John had a little trouble there behind me and as soon as he moved out I guess Tim went up the rail and it worked out good [for us]. Around the last turn I knew he was right on my back and I backed into him as much as I could and then we sprinted for home. We were going a good clip right down to the wire and his horse raced great, but so did mine."
"He drew good and that makes quite a difference on a half-mile track," added Gregg McNair.
Aracache Hanover paid $10.60 for the upset. The Dragon Again-Armbro Cachet colt earned his ninth victory of the season in 18 starts and pushed his 2010 earnings to $664,940. New York residents William Switala and James Martin share ownership of the colt, who won the Confederation Cup earlier this year at Flamboro Downs.
The Erv Miller-trained Wendys Dragon ($36.20) pulled off an upset in the $76,700 Cinderella Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies for Mystical Marker Farms LLC, Mary Jane Anderson and Kenneth Duffy. Driven by Marcus Miller, the Dragon Again-Wendyann Hanover filly stopped the clock in 1:56.2.
Flex The Muscle ($2.80) and driver Tim Tetrick captured the $97,900 Galt Stake for three-year-old trotters in 1:56.3 for trainer Ray Schnittker. The Muscles Yankee-Alix Hall colt is owned by Schnittker, Jerry Silva and the Arden Homestead Stable.
Tetrick also guided American National champion Mystic Desire ($2.20) to a 1:52.4 victory in the $116,700 Abe Lincoln Stake for two-year-old pacers. The Real Desire-Cannes Festival colt is trained by Shawn Nessa and owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Robert Cooper Stables LLC, and Angie Nessa.