Omen Hanover came from last to first to win the $24,000 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares Wednesday, June 16 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
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Down the backstretch, Omen Hanover (Matt Kakaley) was shuffled back to last with Makerbark (Roger Hammer) taking the seven-horse field of fillies and mares to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.1, followed by Lightning Treasure (Anthony Napolitano).
Early on, it was Lightning Treasure on the front end with the opening quarter ripped off in a quick :26 seconds and half in :53.4. Lightning Treasure gave up the lead to Makerbark at the three-quarters while Omen Hanover was starting to get into high gear but was still seventh and last at the top of the stretch.
But a furious stretch drive gave Omen Hanover the victory with a new life mark of 1:50.4 with Billie Bluechip second, three and one-half lengths behind. Makerbark was three and one-half lengths behind while Shanghai Lil was four and one-half lengths back of the winner in the fourth spot.
Lightning Treasure, another of the favourites, was 20 and three-quarters of a length back in last position.
Nicholas Surick trains Omen Hanover, the six-year-old mare with three wins in 19 starts in 2010 and $78,760 banked.
Matt Kakaley drove six winners on the 16-race program. Eric Goodell had a driving double, giving him 3,998 in his career.
(With files from Pocono Downs)