Beren Hanover defeated favourite Comes Home First as he prevailed off a pocket trip in this week's $10,500 Open Pace featured on Friday night (March 18) at Fraser Downs.
Trained and driven by Allan Molloy, 14-1 shot Beren Hanover settled behind insider Premium Stock (Brandon Campbell) during a lively :26.3 opener and tracked him throughout while the parked outsider Sterling Cooper (Bill Davis) challenged, eventually gaining a short lead past the :56 half. Premium Stock fought back en route to three-quarters in 1:25 while Comes Home First (Jim Marino) fanned three-high off Sterling Cooper's cover. However, Beren Hanover closed though the passing lane to steal the spotlight, winning in a season's best clocking of 1:54 flat. Comes Home First finished just over a length behind in second while Illwinifican (Dennis Johnston) edged out Premium Stock in a photo for third.
Beren Hanover (Rocknroll Hanover-Bet Me Hanover) earned his second win of the year from six starts for owner Ruth Cridland of Pitt Meadows, B.C. The six-year-old pacer rewarded his backers with a $31.50 Win payout.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.