Dean B Hanover ($5.70) and Island Beach Boy ($14.50) posted matching 1:52.1 miles in their respective $20,000 first-round Dream Maker splits for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Monday night (July 27) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Owner Mac Nichol and trainer Casie Coleman Herlihy swept the exactor in the first division (race two), as Dean B Hanover and Beachhead finished one-two.
Travis Cullen landed Dean B Hanover on the early lead from post 3, and the pair controlled a :28.2 quarter before ceding control to 4-5 favourite Beachhead (Jonathan Drury) nearing a :57 half. The son of Betting Line and Deli Beach enjoyed a clear pocket through the far turn and tipped off the pegs turning for home to engage his stablemate.
Dean B Hanover worked to a narrow lead with a furlong to go, and despite travelling erratically for a few steps, was straightened out by Cullen to win by a widening 2-3/4 lengths. Beachhead narrowly held second from Ucanttouchthis (Chris Christoforou).
Nichol co-owns Dean B Hanover, who is now a perfect two-for-two, with John Liviakis and Blue Chip Bloodstock.
Aided by a mid-stretch break from fours-on favourite Linedrive Hanover, Island Beach Boy broke his maiden at sixes for Maritime connections in the second division and equalled Dean B Hanover's clocking.
Away fourth from the pole in a compact field of five, Island Beach Boy and Sylvain Filion had no part of a spritely pace set initially by Perfectboy Hanover (James MacDonald), who controlled a :28 first quarter, and then by Linedrive Hanover (Drury), who seized command via a middle move out of third and clicked off mid-race sectionals of :56 and 1:23.3 before turning for home two lengths in front. Patience paid off for Island Beach Boy, who fanned four-wide at the eighth pole when Linedrive Hanover broke stride and used :27.3 stretch speed to power 2-1/2 lengths clear of Keystone Catalyst (Jody Jamieson) and Perfectboy Hanover, who finished second and third, respectively.
Marcel Barrieau trains Island Beach Boy for Ian Smith and Arnold Hagen.
James MacDonald enjoyed a banner night as well, driving five winners on the 11-race program. The five-win night gives MacDonald 63 wins this season at Woodbine Mohawk Park and vaults him up to sixth in the driver’s standings.
To view Monday's complete results, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.