Even-money Lean Hanover and a repeating Tookadiveoffdipper held on and held sway Saturday night (Feb. 29), as they captured Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $40,000 co-features.
There wasn’t any Leap Night leaping per se, but both Lean Hanover and Tookadiveoffdipper did vault over their respective rivals early.
Lean Hanover, from post 3 in the blind-draw marquee trot, worked around Mostinterestingman before a :28.2 opening quarter. It was between a pokey :58.4 intermission and 1:27 three-quarters that Elysium Lindy moved from third.
Elysium Lindy ended up pestering Lean Hanover for the duration, though the favourite did last by a scant nose in 1:56.1. Elysium Lindy drifted late and that did have no favours, while Mostinterestingman was third, beaten a neck. Certify and Photo Bomber came away with the lesser envelopes, while a returning Tight Lines found himself devoid of trot, last among the half-dozen.
For Lean Hanover, a seven-year-old Donato Hanover gelding co-owned by P C Wellwood Enterprises & Karen Carroll and trained by Linda Toscano, it was his second win in six seasonal starts. Jim Marohn Jr. steered the $4.00 winner. The exacta paid $20.40, with the triple returning $58.
Saturday night’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace saw Tookadiveoffdipper—a week after wiring his foes at 17-1—do it again, albeit at a shorter price.
From post 6—same as last Saturday—Tookadiveoffdipper finished what he started, pacing splits of :27.1, :57 and 1:25 in progress to a 1:53.4 win. He was a head in front of a two-move Ostro Hanover and a half-length in front of a last-to-third Jacks Legend N. Italian Delight N and Micky Gee N rounded out the payees, while tepid 2-1 choice Ideal Jimmy pulled pocket and backpedaled to sixth.
For fifth choice Tookadiveoffdipper, a six-year-old Always A Virgin gelding co-owned by Jane & Mark Cross and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., it was his fourth win in seven ’20 tries. Eric Goodell drove the $19.00 winner. The exacta paid $78.50, with the triple returning $359.50.
(Yonkers Raceway)