Overlooked by the betting public at 18-1, Pirate Hanover sailed to victory in the $34,247 Open Handicap Pace at Plainridge Park on Thursday, June 12.
Rocknroll Runa A (Bruce Ranger) took the lead at the quarter in :27.1 and got the field to the half in :54.4. It was there that Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) moved first-over from third and brought Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) with him in the outer flow. Positions remained unchanged to three-quarters in 1:22 and around the last turn where Alex Having Fun started to edge ahead of Rocknroll Runa A. Alex Having Fun took his lead into the stretch, but Pirate Hanover was out and pacing right next to him and ended up wearing Alex Having Fun down at the line to win by a head in a new lifetime best, 1:50.2. Fourever Boy (Brett Beckwith) was a length back in third.
Owned and trained by his driver, Byron, Pirate Hanover returned $39.40 for the win. The seven-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Paris Hanover has racked up 22 career wins.
Later in the $30,137 Winners-Over Handicap Pace, Grey Horizon (Drew Monti) took an uncontested lead off the gate and posted fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:22.1 to three-quarters while Instant Replay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tracked from the pocket and no other threats loomed from behind. Grey Horizon continued to lead into the stretch and held off Instant Replay by a neck as he crossed the line in 1:50.1 to set a new lifetime mark. Torrid Saint A (Beckwith) completed the trifecta.
Grey Horizon ($11.60), a four-year-old son of Vertical Horizon-Panagler, is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables and trained by Jackie Greene.
Drivers Ron Cushing, Drew Monti and Bruce Ranger all had two wins, as did trainer Jackie Greene.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday, June 13 at 4 p.m. and there will be a $5,826 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)