Ervin Hanover And The Mile Of His Life

A sub-1:48 mile in the month of November in Canada? That's not a result of global warming, that's Ervin Hanover in the best shape of his career.

With temperatures just above freezing in Campbellville, Ont. on Saturday night, four-year-old Ervin Hanover heated up the seventh-eighths mile oval with a dazzling career best 1:47.4 performance.

In Saturday's $28,000 feature at Mohawk, the public showed some fondness for 8/5 second choice Ervin Hanover but preferred pylon starter Taurasi and driver Doug McNair. Next week, if those two face off again, there's a good chance those roles will be (at least) reversed.

As the wings of the gate folded in Saturday's main event, four horses vied for early command with post 10 starter Sometime Somewhere (Trevor henry) paying the price to the tune of :26.2 to reach the top. Dale Spence wasn't happy in the pocket behind that 20-1 shot, so he right-lined American History to clear just before the :54 half.

Louis-Philippe Roy angled from fifth at this point to begin his first-over assault, pressing through the 1:21.3 third panel and eventually taking command once the field straightened. Roy asked once he passed American History, but then allowed Ervin Hanover to pace home under his own volition. Ervin Hanover sprinted home in :26.1 for the 1:47.4 jaw-dropper to win by more than six lengths over Jack Panic (Jonathan Drury). Taurasi closed even better — pacing home in :25.3 — to rally for show dough.

The 1:47.4 mile time stands as a Canadian season's record for older pacing horses, and is tied for the second fastest mile time of 2024 on Canadian soil. Linedrive Hanover paced in 1:47.2 in June, while Blue Hunt and Larry Karry posted 1:47.4 miles in May and June, respectively.

Ervin Hanover (Captaintreacherous - Eloquent Grace) is owned my Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pa. and trained by David Menary. That's the fifth win this season and 13th lifetime for Ervin Hanover, who pushed his earnings over the $450,000 mark.

For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)