Hana Hanover may not be a household name in harness racing, but she will move one step closer to millionaire status with a victory in the $246,000 Lady Liberty
on Friday night at The Meadowlands.
“She’s probably not the most glitzy horse going, but she’s got a big heart and always gives it her all,” said her trainer, Mark Steacy. “Her tactical speed helps, too. She can get off the wings pretty quick, spot herself and pick up the horse she needs to follow.”
Hana Hanover will start from post six in the Lady Liberty, carded as the fifth race Friday night, with George Brennan at the lines.
Hana Hanover had a standout three-year-old campaign in 2007, during which she won seven of 15 races, including the Mistletoe Shalee in 1:49.3. She missed the board just twice for earnings of $501,775. Though she was less prolific with only three wins last year, Hana Hanover was a consistent earner at age four and closed out the season with just over $250,000. She enters the Lady Liberty with career earnings of $910,414.
“Last year, she raced very gutsy in the Allerage Farm at the Red Mile, winning in 1:49.3 there,” Steacy noted. “It looked like she was beat in the stretch and she fought back. Her miles in the Breeders Crown [third] and the Milton Final [second] were also very strong. They were, and still are, a tough bunch of older mares, and she has always been in the hunt. Every now and then, hopefully she can slip by them.
“After that solid transition year in 2008, she’s going to have to crank it up a notch or two,” Steacy continued. “Usually, they get stronger at age five. I’m hoping that’s the case with her. She’s starting the year off a lot fresher. She had a lot of tie up problems, and this year, touch wood, that hasn’t been an issue. We’re hoping to get to a million dollars with her this year, and then we’ll think about retiring her.”
Hana Hanover is owned by David Reid, David McDonald and Stan Klemencic, all of Ontario, and Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing of British Columbia.
Trainer Mark Steacy is best known for campaigning Majestic Son, Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2006. In his banner career, the son of Angus Hall won $1,993,157 and took a mark of 1:52.2 winning the Canadian Trotting Classic. He capped off his sophomore season beating Hambletonian champion Glidemaster in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine, one of his 14 wins that year. Majestic Son is currently standing his second season at Tara Hills Stud in Port Perry, Ontario.
Steacy’s other major league star was the filly pacer Stylish Artist, who pulled off a shocking 73-1 upset in the 2008 Mistletoe Shalee. The daughter of Artsplace earned $940,022 and won a 2007 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands. Steacy’s stable has banked more than $1 million in each of the last four seasons.
“Life always slows down a bit after a horse like Majestic Son, but Stylish Artist and Hana Hanover have both been sweet,” he said. “My biggest thrill with Majestic Son was probably beating Glidemaster in the Breeders Crown. They went head-to-head, and in the other races we beat him we got the jump on him. There were a lot great moments like the Canadian Trotting Classic. It was unfortunate he wasn’t eligible to the Hambletonian, and we had to supplement him to the Breeders Crown. I would’ve loved to just be there for the Hambletonian. We simply didn’t make the early payment.”
Steacy is based in the small community of Lansdowne, Ontario, which is halfway between Montreal and Toronto.
“We have a family operation,” he said. “My father and two sons help me. My son, Shawn, will be taking Hana Hanover to the Meadowlands. I have 20 babies, 18 three-year-olds and two older horses in my stable.”
(The Meadowlands)
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