Shuffled back in the early going, a resilient Allywag Hanover was urged late in the lane by driver Todd McCarthy to win the $265,400 first division of the William R. Haughton Memorial for free-for-all pacers at The Meadowlands on Saturday (July 17) in a blazing 1:47.1. Cattlewash and David Miller captured the second division in 1:47.3.
Allywag Hanover left quickly off the gate for the inside with his nine foes rushing for early positions. Just after the first turn, Backstreet Shadow took command over Allywag Hanover with Century Farroh on his tail through a :26 first quarter.
The hectic mile continued when Angers Bayama came first-over with Ruthless Hanover second-over to combat the first half. Angers Bayama made the top, cutting the half in :53.1 and leaving Ruthless Hanover hanging on the outside. Backstreet Shadow rolled to his right for a charge down the stretch and passed the dueling front-pacers. On the inside, Ana Afreet N made up ground to get in the mix past three-quarters in 1:20.
Having saved ground and found a path up the inside, Allywag Hanover rushed to the front with plenty of pace to catch Backstreet Shadow while long shot Brassy Hanover passed tired pacers to get third.
"I've never actually used him out of the gate before,” said McCarthy, “but he left, and I was confident if I could keep a little bit of pace we'd settle close enough by the half. It worked out. Off the turn, he was a little hot and I was a little concerned. I was just trying to keep him together, hoping we were going to get a break."
The Brett Pelling-trained Allywag Hanover recorded a lifetime mark with his 1:47.1 win. The four-year-old son of Captaintreacherous has now earned $349,458 for his owners, the Allywag Stable. He paid $12.40 to win.
Public choice Cattlewash, with David Miller in the sulky, won the $265,400 second division in 1:47.3 over "sloppy" going.
Cattlewash left quickly with Shake That House settling behind him through a :26 quarter, at which point This Is The Plan took command with Workin Ona Mystery hanging first-over.
This Is The Plan rolled by a :53 half while Shake The House remained poised on the inside to make a move. This Is The Plan began to struggle into a 1:20.1 three-quarters, allowing Cattlewash to make his late charge on the outside while Shake That House dug in to put pressure on the other two.
Cattlewash passed This Is The Plan on the outside and Shake That House caught him on the inside. As Cattlewash crossed the wire in 1:47.3, Bllack Hole closed swiftly to capture the third spot.
Ron Burke trains Cattlewash for owner William J. Donovan. The four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere horse became a millionaire from the win, pushing his earnings to $1,099,592. Cattlewash paid $5.80 to win.
(The Meadowlands)
The William Haughton Memorial was part of a massive night of stakes at The Meadowlands. Full coverage is available in the Meadowlands Pace news centre.