Hanover Raceway played host to the third leg of the Slots Cup Series for three and four-year-old pacers on Saturday night
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In the first of three $12,000 divisions, Justalittleluck didn’t need any, as he took quick command of the lead hitting the first quarter in :28.4, and led from start to finish completing the half in :58.4, the three-quarters in 1:26.2, and the mile in 1:54.4, just 3/5th of a second off the overall track record. Driver Trevor Henry may have been able to get even closer to the record but eased his horse to a two length victory. The mile was just a fifth of a second slower than his first trip to Hanover Raceway just a week earlier. Off The Schneid (Dean Wall) and Lookin For A Fight (Paul MacKenzie) finished second and third.
Afterwards, owner Martin O’Toole of London, ON said he was very happy to have such a great horse. It was the fifth win of the season for the four-year-old son of Northern Luck trained by Kim Bakker, and the 13th of his career.
In division number two, Whispers Art (Anthony Haughn) grabbled the early lead and led thru quarters of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.2, but 1-9 favourite, Western Senator, driven by Bruce Richardson, had just enough class, to nip out Whispers Art, just before the wire in 1:56.4. Its Yours (Paul MacKenzie) rounded out the top three.
Owner Tim Dean of Owen Sound, ON said he purposely kept his horse, trained by Brad Shakes, out of the first two legs of the Slots Cup because Western Senator needs a banked racetrack, and admitted if he didn’t do well at Hanover, he likely wouldn’t continue in the next legs. Dean said his horse was recently claimed and the previous trainer made some changes to his back shoes that resulted in knee problems for the four-year-old. He says he’ll likely give his horse the next three weeks off and race again at the next stop in the Slots Cup at Flamboro Downs in July.
In the third division, Great Luck, driven by Alfie Carroll, was first to the quarter pole in :28.2 but was overtaken by Uncle Bill Mac (Trevor Henry) at the half in :58 flat. Uncle Bill Mac kept the lead at the three-quarters in 1:25.3, but Great Luck took over the lead again in the stretch and finished the mile in 1:56 flat. Uncle Bill Mac finished a half-length behind and M A Sailor gave Paul MacKenzie another third-place finish.
Great Luck is owned by Ralph and Sandra Pitt of Cargill, ON and trainer Don and Ken Beatson of the Toronto area. Ken Beatson said afterwards he wasn’t surprised when Uncle Bill Mac took over the lead after the quarter pole, but had confidence the four-year-old son of E Dees Cam would come back for the victory. It was his second victory to go along with a third-place finish in three legs of the Slots Cup so far.
The top nine point getters after the eliminations will advance to the $100,000 Slots Cup final September 11 at Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia. Also advancing to the Slots Cup final will be Dianne Kreuger of Hanover and a guest. She won a Limo trip to the finals along with $500 spending money, overnight accommodations and a chance to share in $5,000 prize money on the night of the final race.
Hanover plays host to the Trevor Breadner Memorial Pace next Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. Trevor was a longtime fan of Hanover Raceway, who passed away after a three-year long battle with cancer at the young age of 23 in 2004.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from Hanover Raceway)