Sparrow Hanover thwarted challengers throughout the mile and prevailed in Thursday's feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, an $11,500 conditioned pace.
Although Sparrow Hanover was sent off as the 1-9 favourite, his foes had no qualms about taking their shots throughout the mile. After taking command just beyond the opening quarter of :28, driver Chris Lems felt pressure to the halfway point from longshot Always Floating (Koltin Noble), who found himself parked to the half in :56. Sparrow Hanover had the lead to himself on the way to three-quarters in 1:25.3 while Mantador (Jeremy Indof) wheeled into second, first-up on the final turn. The most serious threat was the last, when Unhynged Speed knifed inside in deep stretch from the pocket and loomed large. However, Lems kept Sparrow Hanover to his task and the three-year-old Captaintreacherous-Stacia Hanover gelding downed Unhynged Speed by a half-length in 1:54.2 over a “good” surface. Mantador held for show.
Dan Ross trains Sparrow Hanover, who has won six of 13 starts this year, for David Kapp.
Elsewhere on Thursday’s card, the eight-race winning streak of Muscle Jack came to an end when he was out-tripped by the pocket-sitting Cartier Zette and finished second. Dave Palone piloted the winner, a nine-year-old Muscle Hill-Liebchen gelding, for trainer James Dodson and owner Rocco Stebbins.
As they did Wednesday, Aaron Merriman and Dave Palone each tallied three wins on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues on Friday, with first post at 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)