Panther Hanover established himself as one of the fastest three-year-old pacers in the history of the sport when he captured last year’s Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic Final at The Meadowlands Racetrack in 1:47.2 on Hambletonian Day, but he’s been noticeably absent from the older pacing ranks this season due to an injury.
Trot Insider has learned, however, the pacer is on the comeback trail for Jim Carr of Hamilton, Ontario.
“Friday [trainer James 'Friday' Dean] had been in 1:57 with him this winter in Florida and he was ready to qualify, but shortly after we sent him to New Jersey to trainer Bruce Saunders he started to go off a little bit,” said Carr. “We had an MRI done on his leg and found out what the problem was and shut him down and let it cure. I just didn’t want to inject him, so I said to shut him down and let’s try to get it fixed right.”
While many of the major events have come and gone, Carr is optimistic Panther Hanover can return to the top level and take on the sport’s best older pacers in the fall.
“I figured the way the horses were all beating up against themselves I’d get him ready for Lexington and the Breeders Crown,” added Carr. “He’s with Bruce Saunders at Magical Acres in New Jersey. He trained in 2:00 on Saturday, and he’s scheduled to qualify around September 7 and then we’re going to take him to Lexington and start him out there."
The four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Panned Out won half of his starts in a four-race rookie campaign before coming back and taking his game to a whole new level in his sophomore season. That year he went 8-for-14 while racking up earnings in excess of $365,000. In addition to his win in that year’s Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic the pacer also triumphed in the $252,521 Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack last September.
Well Mr. Carr, good decision,
Well Mr. Carr, good decision, He's a WORLD CHAMPION, he will repay you in the end.