For the second straight week, Looking Hanover won the $26,000 Open trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday, December 9
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In the week's top trot, Ron Pierce got the call to drive Looking Hanover to a 1:55 victory to win the $26,000 feature trot. After Chosen Voyageur (Corey Callahan) and Zitomira (Jacquie Ingrassia) duelled through a :26.3 opening panel and to the half, Chosen Voyageur opened up a comfortable lead at the three-quarters. Pierce, the meet's leading driver, was then on the move with Looking Hanover and the four-year-old altered son of Muscles Yankee quickly surged up and quickly passed the leader. In the stretch, Looking Hanover was all alone with Starsel and Daryl Bier coming on for second in front of Super Chuck and John Wagner.
Ed Gannon trains Looking Hanover for Dawn Gannon and Yannick Gingras. He has now won seven times this year and been in the money 21 of 29 starts winning $148,870 in purses.
In the $18,000 sub-feature trot, Ron Pierce took Sunland Dakota right to the front and was untested until reaching the last turn when JM Vangogh (Jim Morand) came out of second to come at the leader. Sunland Dakota survived the challenge and easily won in 1:56.1 with JM Vangogh a strong second three-quarters of a length behind at the wire. Rose Run Flash (Mike Cole) took show honours. Bruce Saunders trains Sunland Dakota, a four-year-old Coreleone gelding-CC Wild Falls gelding owned by Frank Belino. It was the seventh triumph this season for the $119,995 winner.
One race later, Jim Morand guided Barnik Racing Stable's The Budster home in 1:56.3 to win a $15,500 conditioned trot. Eli Scott trains the Broadway Hall-Distaff gelding, now a six-time winner this year. Fire On Broadway (Ron Pierce) was next with Dilly Dally Delia (Vic Kirby) third.
Meet leading driver Ron Pierce completed the program with five wins, Ross Wolfenden reined three consecutive winners and Tony Morgan had a driving double. Josh Green had two trainer wins.
(Dover Downs)