Joelsyy Hanover and driver Sam Widger pulled off a 27-1 upset in the $49,315 Open Handicap Pace at Miami Valley Raceway on the makeup card held Sunday, Feb. 8.
When the wings of the gate folded, a mad dash for the front took place with five leavers all wanting to set the pace. When the dust settled, Joelsyy Hanover came out with the lead, although most of it was spent three-wide around the turn in a quick :26.3.
As they passed the wire for the first time, Rose Run Zane (Austin Hanners) pulled first-over from fourth, toting with him Better Is Nice (Tyler Smith) and Little Rocket Man (David Miller) while Im Skinnydipin N (Trace Tetick) enjoyed a pocket trip. They passed the half in :56, a nice little breather for Joelsyy Hanover, and continued double-file up the backside to three-quarters timed in 1:24.1.
Around the final turn, a horse race broke out when Better Is Nice flipped three-wide bringing with him Little Rocket Man and a host of others. When Joelsyy Hanover turned for home, he had the entire field within three lengths as horses were shaking loose from every direction and coming after the leader.
Near the wire, Joelsyy Hanover continued to hold a slim margin over four challengers, with Im Skinnydipin N sneaking up the rail and appearing to put a nose in front in the final steps only to lose that advantage right at the wire. Joelsyy Hanover hung on for the win in 1:52.1, while Imskinnydipin N finished second and Rose Run Zane went a big mile for third. Little Rocket Man and Better Is Nice completed the top five finishers -- all within three-quarters of a length of the winner.
For the Jessica Milner-trained Joelsyy Hanover, a regular player in the Open ranks at Miami Valley, the win was his 30th career tally, pushing his lifetime earnings to $638,892. Milner shares ownership of the eight-year-old JK Endofanera-Jans Luck gelding with Andre Coblentz of Wooster, Ohio.
Scoring his first win of the season in four attempts, Joelsyy Hanover returned $57 to his backers at the betting windows.
Dropping down a notch to the $43,836 Open II Handicap Pace, Humble A was a 1:50.1 winner for driver Luke Hanners and trainer Michael Hitchcock.
Doubles was the word of the day as drivers Hanners, David Miller, Chris Page and Jeremy Smith each had one and trainers Virgil Morgan Jr. and Heather France did as well.
Racing returns on Monday with a post time of 4 p.m.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)