Dilly Hanover got his career off to a perfect start and co-owner/trainer Emily Bost hopes he will continue to put his best foot forward when the Bobby Weiss Series for three-year-old male trotters begins next week at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Dilly Hanover won his debut this past Tuesday (March 31) by four lengths in 1:56.3 at Pocono Downs. Driven by Braxten Boyd, the son of International Moni-Dornello went to the front from post seven and set all the fractions, including a :56.3 clocking for the second half of the one-mile race.
“We were all very impressed,” said Bost, who owns Dilly Hanover with R K 4 Racing of Pennsylvania and Bruce Potter of New Hampshire. “My partners were tears-of-joy happy. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I just wanted him to have a good experience and he sure did. And he was a gentleman the whole time. He’s a true professional.”
Dilly Hanover was purchased for $27,778 at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale. His dam, Dornello, had nine previous foals – each with at least one lifetime victory – led by Grand Circuit stakes winner Lauderdale. Dilly Hanover’s second dam is 1990 Dan Patch Award winner Me Maggie and a deeper look into his family finds millionaires Oh Well, Lifetime Pursuit, Southwind Tyrion, Whiskey Tax and Credit Winner.
“We loved his video; we thought he trotted very nice in his video,” Bost said about buying Dilly Hanover as a yearling. “We always go to put our hands on the horses and see them before we buy them. We liked the look of him. He was small, but he was nicely put together and he seemed reasonable to deal with. We took a chance.”
Dilly Hanover qualified once as a two-year-old, but after a third-place finish in 2:03.3 at Pocono, he was turned out and given time to mature.
“He just had some growing to do,” said Bost. “I have great partners and they always want to do the right thing for the horse, so we just shut him down for about seven months. We turned him out and just let him do some growing – and boy did he grow. We started him back in late December, early January, and it seems like the time off did him well. He’s come back great. He’s a stunning horse to look at. He turns heads. It’s nice to see that is translating onto the track so far.”
On Monday, April 6, Dilly Hanover will compete in the first of three $17,500 USD first-round Weiss divisions for sophomore colt and gelding trotters. He will leave from post five in a field of eight, with Boyd in the sulky, and is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. The 5-2 favourite is Bee Positive, a son of Walner out of 2013 Dan Patch and O’Brien Horse of the Year Bee A Magician, who got his first career victory in 1:55.3 last week at The Meadowlands.
“I just hope he continues to do well,” Bost said about Dilly Hanover, who is staked to the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, PA All-Stars, Liberty Bell and Simpson Memorial this season. “We’re hopeful. He trots beautifully; he always has. He’s got a great gait. He’s willing. On the track and in the barn, he listens to you; he’s not unreasonable. He’s a lovebug, too. He loves his scratches, loves his cookies.
“He’s just an all-around nice horse – and I’m glad he is in my stable.”
The morning-line favourites in the remaining two Weiss divisions Monday are Drinking Problems, who is 5-2 in the second, and Confident Volo, who is 5-2 in the third.
Drinking Problems, a son of Bar Hopping-Designed To Be and half-brother to 2019 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Greenshoe, has hit the board in seven of 12 career races, winning two, for trainer Nancy Takter. The earner of $41,656 lifetime will be driven by Jason Bartlett.
Confident Volo, a son of Bar Hopping-Context, has hit the board in five of eight lifetime starts, winning two. He is one-for-one this year for trainer Todd Buter and has earned $38,741 in his career. He will be driven by Tyler Buter.
The Bobby Weiss Series, named after the longtime trackman at Pocono, also features divisions for three-year-old male pacers, beginning on Saturday, April 4, and for three-year-old female pacers and trotters, both beginning on Tuesday, April 7. Following three preliminary rounds, the top horses from each group will meet in $50,000 USD finals beginning on April 25.
Racing begins at 1 p.m. at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. For free Pocono Downs programs, visit the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association website at phha.org.
(USTA)