A track rated 'sloppy' with a four-second variant was no problem for the appropriately-named winner of the Saturday feature pace at Exhibition Park Raceway.
A field of five lined up in the $1,600 Ribfest Pace for the winners-over class at EPR and Weather Hanover was much the best. With Todd Trites at the controls, Weather Hanover was pointed for the lead off the gate and landed on top early. That lead was contested right off the hop, however, by standout Fall Bliss (Dr. Mitch Downey) through a sharp :27.4 opening panel. Weather Hanover repelled that early bid and settled into a sensible :59 half before facing another bid for the front. With Fall Bliss again challenging and then fading, Trites and Weather Hanover opened up a double-digit lead on the backstretch with a 1:28.1 third panel before cruising home in :33.1 to trip the timer in 2:01.2 some six lengths to the good. Ultimatelyhandsome (Scott Hubbard) rallied for place with Jackson K Down (Stephen Mason) completing the triactor.
Six-year-old Weather Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere - Whatsupcuz) is trained by Dr. Trevin Shive for owner Dr. James Shive of Rines Creek, N.S. The win was the 20th lifetime for Weather Hanover, increasing his lifetime purse earnings to $93,917.
For results from Saturday's card at Exhibition Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park.