The fastest pacer of 2024, Legendary Hanover will look to atone from his recent narrow defeat on one five-eighths mile oval with another three-turn stakes test.
The Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) will showcase the best New York-bred sophomore pacers on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Tioga Downs. Both the filly and colt stakes split into divisions with each of the four stakes racing for just into six figures.
Legendary Hanover, the sport's fastest pacer in 2024 by virtue of his electrifying 1:46.2 Cane Pace win — a Meadowlands track record that came hot on the heels of his stakes record 1:46.3 Meadowlands Pace win — takes on state-bred company for the first time this year in his $105,750 USD EBC division (Race 10).
His season has consisted of facing the Grand Circuit types from Ontario through New Jersey, acquitting himself as one of the best in the division to this point for owners Eric Good, West Winds Stable and Mark Dumain. Tony Beaton trains the Huntsville colt and Canada's top driver James MacDonald will be along for the ride.
Legendary Hanover is not in by himself, however, as both Boston Rocks and Huntingforchrome have been in the trenches of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) sharpening their game in anticipation of the big money coming over the next few weeks.
Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) is a mere half length from perfection in his 11 seasonal tries, falling just that short in the Messenger Pace final. After a winless campaign at two, the son of American Ideal is unbeaten against state-bred competition while amassing $464,978 this year for owner Symmetry Stables and trainer Travis Alexander. Howlenthehills catches the weaker of the splits (Race 8) with Escape To America the main obstacle between him and the lion's share of the $104,500 USD prize.
The EBC fillies go for $108,000 USD in each division, and Chris Ryder is sitting on a big hand in both as he has been all summer with his potent pair of Peace Talks (Race 3) and Tarrific (Race 6). Top NYSS reinsman Jason Bartlett scheduled to drive both.
Peace Talks has collected over $221,981 for owners Henderson Farms, Jeff Bell, FAC Racing and Bob Mondillo on the strength of two wins in nine starts this year. The American Ideal filly is also the NYSS defending champion for this division.
Tarrific has the championship gene, by New York's top sire Huntsville from U.S. Hall of Fame broodmare Road Bet who has produced the winners of $3.7 million with three (including Tarrific) sub-1:50 performers including world champ Cattlewash and the iron tough Niki Hill (also campaigned by Ryder). Winless at age two, Tarrific has lived up to her blue blood at three, winning half of her eight seasonal starts while earning $215,032 and must be considered at the very top of the class. Margaret Dey and Let It Ride Stables share ownership.
First post at Tioga on Sunday is 1 p.m. Just before the 16-dash betting card, a single NYSS dash for freshman pacing colts goes postward as a non-betting affair at 12:45 p.m. And, just when it looked as though things just couldn't get any better, it's Corntastic weekend, too.
(Tioga Downs)