Trainer Dave Menary swept the Preferred events at Woodbine Mohawk Park with stable standout Ervin Hanover and budding star In The Spotlight N as part of a five-win night for the conditioner on Saturday, Aug. 16.
First, Ervin Hanover won another tight top-level clash in the $36,000 Preferred Pace to go back-to-back in the premier overnight class. Three horses sped past the rail starter heading into the first turn with Remember The Alamo (Mario Baillargeon) assuming command. He cut out fractions of :26, :54, and 1:21.3 without seeing a challenge. Tyler Borth tipped Ervin Hanover onto the back of Brue Hanover (J.R. Plante) on the final turn but had to circle that stalling stablemate as they came into the stretch. Ervin Hanover, still with 3-1/4 lengths to make up at the eighth pole, kicked home and collared Remember The Alamo late to win by a neck in 1:48.4. Tarasi (Doug McNair) finished third.
Ervin Hanover is three-for-four in the Mohawk Preferred this year and has won four of nine seasonal starts. The stallion recorded his 20th lifetime victory while increasing his earnings to $690,913 in his 67th career outing. The five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace is owned by Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pa. He paid $5.40 to win.
In The Spotlight N made it three straight wins in the $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace. Plante put her in play early, and the mare drove on three-high into the opening turn to make the front with :26 speed to the quarter. She paced to the midway point in :55.1, then began to pick up speed on the final turn to three-quarters in 1:23.1. Pocket-sitter Tells On A Roll (Travis Cullen) chased the pacesetter down the stretch but could make no impact, and In The Spotlight N closed out the win with a one-length margin in 1:50.2. Style For A Mile (McNair) soared late to get up for second, giving Menary a one-two finish. Tells On A Roll hung on for third.
In The Spotlight N has won four of her past five outings for Menary and is now undefeated in two starts in the Mohawk Preferred ranks. She is seven-for-17 this season. The seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Goodlookingbabe, also owned by Pollack Racing LLC, has won 25 of 90 career starts and has earned $369,574. She returned $4.20.
Menary also took both $17,000 divisions of the Pop-Up Series third leg with Jk Black Gold ($2.50) in 1:50 with McNair driving and Bold Spirit ($2.60) in 1:51.3 with Borth in the bike. The series is for male pacers that are non-winners of $50,000 in a minimum of 12 starts this year or that started for a purse of $11,000 or less in their prior start or started in a previous leg of the series. Menary tallied his fifth win with Backup Plan ($5.60) in the finale.
The Cambridge, Ont.-based conditioner has already eclipsed last year’s win total that contributed to a Trainer of the Year Award nomination. His trainees are winning at a 30.5 per cent clip this year, and his current UTRS would amount to a personal best in a year. He is now in front of national wins leader Jodie Cullen by eight tallies in the Mohawk trainers’ standings.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Ervin Hanover winning on August 16)