After getting a slow start early in the mile, Chav Hanover displayed a strong closing kick to win the $12,000 trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (Aug. 23).
Chav Hanover (Steve Nason) got away fifth and found himself a gapped eight lengths off the leading Hs Marcia (Drew Campbell) by the time that one got to the quarter in :27.2. The race went by the stands and Simple Kaos (Shawn Gray) came out from third, took the lead and motored into the second turn.
As they made their way up the backstretch, the top four horses broke away from the trailers. Count On Rosie (Todd O’Dea) pulled from third and hung trying to advance, allowing Chav Hanover to move up to third on the pegs. When Simple Kaos took the group into the stretch, Nason pulled Chav Hanover off the pylons and tipped him three-deep. Then under heavy urging, Chav Hanover tracked down Simple Kaos at the beam to pull the mild upset in 1:56.2, a new lifetime mark.
The win was the fourth of the year for Chav Hanover ($15.80), who is owned and trained by Nicole Hardy.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Aug. 26). Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)