Apprentice Hanover cruised to his seventh straight win on Saturday night in the $34,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack despite Wazzup Wazzup's surprise attack late in the mile.
Leaving from post six with Jody Jamieson at the reins, Apprentice Hanover worked his way to lead and cleared into the first turn before hitting the first quarter mark in :26.4.
Apprentice Hanover took a second quarter breather to the half in :56 with McKinney (Sylvain Filion) content to sit a pocket trip behind the heavy 1-5 favourite and Wazzup Wazzup (Jonathan Drury) on his back.
As Apprentice Hanover led his six rivals to the next marker in 1:24.4, 50-1 longshot Lucky Terror (Jack Moiseyev) made the first over sacrifice from the backfield, but began to back away as they turned for home.
Apprentice Hanover looked strong on the lead in the stretch, but 25-1 shot Wazzup Wazzup made things a little more interesting, sneaking up the inside late in the lane. However, Apprentice Hanover managed to keep him at bay to earn his seventh straight win in 1:52.2. Wazzup Wazzup came up a neck short while McKinney rounded out the top three finishers one and a half lengths behind.
Apprentice Hanover is now three-for-three this year with his win streak stretching back to November 2013. He now has 14 wins in 32 career starts -- his richest in Northfield Park's $126,000 Cleveland Classic on Dec. 14 -- for lifetime earnings of $563,474.
Ben Wallace trains the four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.
Apprentice Hanover paid $2.40 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.