Take Out Hanover blitzed The Loop in 1:57.2 to break the track’s all-age record in its first card of the meet on Saturday, Aug. 1, also featuring in a triple for trainer Trevor Williams.
The four-year-old Stay Hungry-Tempest Blue Chip gelding seemed on a mission for driver Blake Piwniuk, ripping out from post four for a :29 quarter and a 4-1/2-length lead. He took a breather to the half in :59.2, then took off again to three-quarters in 1:28.2 and sprinted for the line with a :29 last quarter, all while extending his margin to 12-1/4 lengths. Acquired Taste (Clayton Braybrook) was best of the rest, followed by Appoggiatura (Cory Manning).
The 1:57.2 mile displaced the 1:58 all-age mark jointly held by stallion P L Jackson (2023), mare Outlaw Allie Oops (2024) and gelding Chief Is Boss (2025).
Take Out Hanover is now undefeated in three starts in Manitoba for owner-trainer Williams, who acquired the gelding in July and transported him to the province for Miami Fair’s two-day meet. He is five-for-20 this year and 12-for-56 lifetime with $82,417 in earnings. He paid $3.40 to win.
Williams’ other winners were Tempete ($2.40), whom he leases, and Farmer Got The D ($3.60), whom he owns. Piwniuk drove the successful trio. It’s rare for a triple to bring down a trainer’s win rate, and even more so while going three-for-five on a card. But Williams was nine-for-11 after the Miami session (81.8 per cent) and is now 12-for-16 for a strike rate of 75 per cent. He has hit the board a further three times.
Severe Turbulence ($4.20) took the first feature of the meet with a 2:03.3 effort in the $4,000 conditioned pace. Richard Remillard piloted the five-year-old Captive Audience-Outlawlookslikrain mare for trainer Tara Isman. Shirley Wicked (Tyler Grundy) was 1-1/2 lengths back in second with Irish Jean (Clayton Braybrook) third.
Saturday’s card was the first of 10 this season at The Loop. The track, located in Winnipeg, Man., will host racing each Saturday until the finale on Oct. 3. The Manitoba Great Western Stake, the province’s most prestigious race, is set for Aug. 29, with eliminations the week prior. The $20,000 (added) Lady Crocus will be held on Aug. 8.
For Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada)