Snowstorm Hanover matched the stakes record when he stormed through the slop and scored in 1:56 in Friday’s Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action at The Meadows.
The $192,004 event for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over six divisions, with Affair Of Honor, Dover Dan, Don Dream, Lucky Matter and Moonshiner Hanover also taking splits. Trainer Chris Beaver (Lucky Matter, Moonshiner Hanover) enjoyed a stakes double while Corey Callahan, trainer John Butenschoen and owners William Wiswell, Jean Goehlen and Eugene Schick (Affair Of Honor, Dover Dan) teamed for a pair of Hickory Pride victories.
Snowstorm Hanover had little trouble with the off going, zipping to the front for Dave Palone and defeating Stealth Hanover by three and a half lengths, with Andy M third. The time equalled Stormin Normand’s Hickory Pride record established in 2011.
Palone, who previously piloted the son of Muscle Massive-Snow Angel Hanover in two qualifying wins, said the big performance was no surprise to him.
“He’s acted like a really good colt all along,” Palone said. “There’s no bottom to him. Today over that racetrack, that’s an incredible mile.”
Ron Burke trains Snowstorm Hanover for Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
A full brother to millionaire and top stallion Explosive Matter, Affair Of Honor raced greenly through the stretch, but still held off Box Of Luck by a head in 1:58. Muscle Ville earned show.
“He kind of ran out a little bit, looked a little bit lost, but he’s starting to figure it out,” said assistant trainer Tyler Butenschoen of the son of Cantab Hall-Fireworks Hanover, a $90,000 yearling acquisition. “He has a bunch of ability and speed, but he might be one who takes a little longer to put everything together.”
Dover Dan saved ground for most of the mile, then exploded out of the final turn and downed You Cant Habit by half a length in 1:58.3. Muay Hanover completed the ticket.
“I had to just get him through the turn at the half,” Callahan said. “If I could have been first up, I think he’d have won a lot easier. But I didn’t want to move with him in either turn. He’s still trying to find his gait.”
In the $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Foiled Again, richest horse in harness racing history, showed he still has plenty of pop at age 12 when he cruised to a front-end victory in 1:51.4, two and three-quarter lengths better than the pocket-sitting Techtor Hanover. Aimo Hanover earned show.
The Dragon Again-In A Safe Place gelding soared over $7.4 million (U.S.) in career earnings for trainer Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables.
(The Meadows)