Cam Fella Stakes winner Meirs Hanover returned to the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit on Saturday night and shaved two-fifths of a second off his lifetime mark with an impressive 1:48.4 triumph in the $35,000 Preferred Pace
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Making his second start off a four month layoff and first on the WEG circuit since his 1:49.1 victory in the Cam Fella Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack on March 19, Meirs Hanover blasted off the gate from the outside Post 6 and took command of the field before hitting the quarter mark in a flashy :25.4. The 4-5 favourite, driven by Sylvain Filion for trainer David Menary, took a breather to the half in :54 and posted three-quarters in 1:21.3 before taking off down the stretch to score by two lengths. Broadies Song (Rick Zeron) rallied home in :26-seconds from the back of the pack to finish second ahead of first over Piece Of the Rock (Paul MacDonell).
Meirs Hanover paid $3.70 to win. The four-year-old son of Artsplace-Matty Mattgalane has won seven races in 10 seasonal starts, including the Cam Fella, the Exit16W Series Final and Clyde Hirt Series Final at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The 15-time career winner now boasts earnings of $179,100 in 2011 and $273,139 lifetime for Ohio owners David Van Dusen, Michael Cimaglio, and the Strollin Stable.
Hilarious Halo was also a wire-to-wire winner in the $28,000 Preferred 2 Pace for driver Rick Zeron (four wins on the 11-race program) and trainer Brad Shakes.
The five-year-old son of The Panderosa-Bestaverde left from post position three in a short five-horse field and carved out fractions of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:24.3 en route to the 1:51.1 victory. Grin For Money (Jack Moiseyev) rallied off cover to place over pocket-sitter Aled Hanover (Scott Zeron)
Hilarious Halo paid $7 to win for the ninth time in 24 starts this year. Dan Mogridge of Hillsdale, Ont. and Jeffery Oborne of Jordan Station, Ont. share ownership of the bay horse, who won the Friendship Pacing Series Final at Kawartha Downs earlier this season. His 18th career win pushed his earnings to $124,320 for the year and $232,533 lifetime.
To view results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.