Maxim Hanover’s driver wouldn’t have minded trying to win on the front end, but in the end, a two-hole trip did the trick as the Robert Cleary trainee took the Saturday, March 29 feature at The Meadowlands, a $25,000 high-end conditioned pace.
“He didn’t show a lot of gate speed last week,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy. “I tried to get him involved a little better [this time around]. I put his mind on the job and that was ideal for us. He was quite focused on the front, but was just as happy with a two-hole trip.”
Primary Colors and Jason Bartlett fired away from post two in the 10-horse field as Maxim Hanover was forced to race wide in the first turn after leaving from post five. McCarthy kept Maxim Hanover, a four-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous-Mean Lean, in motion, looping the leader after Primary Colors hit the quarter in :27.2. Primary Colors then quickly retook the top, passing the half in :55.3.
They continued 1-2 around the far turn and past three-quarters, which was timed in 1:24. Primary Colors was determined through the stretch, but couldn’t deal with Maxim Hanover, who vacated the pocket with less than an eighth to go and sailed right by to record a three-quarter-length win in 1:50.3.
“He’s got a big engine, a big set of lungs,” said McCarthy, who has driven the pacer on and off since he was a two-year-old when they won the Matron Stakes together. “If his mind is on the job, he’s a pretty talented horse. It’s time [for him] to step up. I think he’ll become a really nice Open horse.”
As the 3-1 third choice in the betting, Maxim Hanover returned $8.40 to win while recording his ninth victory in 27 lifetime tries. He now has earnings of $294,451 for owner Royal Wire Products Inc.
The fourth race on the card was the “Hunter Myers Memorial Race,” and patrons were encouraged to watch and wager on the event as both The Meadowlands and Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey pledged to donate their net revenue share to Myers' family.
In addition, Meadowlands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gural will personally match the total share.
The charitable pursuit motivated wagering that was just a hair under $250,000.
A crowd of horsepeople and other harness racing officials and media gathered in the winner’s circle after the fourth race at The Meadowlands on Saturday night in memory of Hunter Myers.
Todd McCarthy led the driver colony with three winners on the card while Maria Reid and Jeff Cullipher led the trainers with two victories apiece.
A $5,029 carryover led to just over $25,000 in “new money” wagered on the 20-cent Pick-6. After a sequence that had the winners' odds of 1-2, 19-1, 3-1, 9-1, 3-5 and 9-1, winning tickets were exchanged for $9,887.44.
All-source betting on the 14-race card totalled $3,204,938 USD.
Racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)