Winless since late May, Frost Free Hanover broke loose Monday at The Meadows, drawing off to demolish the field by 8 lengths in 1:54.4 — a tick off the stake record — in a $60,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake.
The event for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters was contested over three divisions, with Another Transcript and Revrac Harbour taking the other splits — each for Dave Palone.
After only one start at two, Frost Free Hanover began his sophomore campaign with five victories before tapering off, a drought trainer Leslie Zendt attributes to a step up in competition.
“He was racing against older horses in overnights here, which is really hard for a three-year-old,” she said. “Then he was in against some tough three-year-olds. But he’s been an overachiever all year long and, really, a pleasant surprise.”
In Monday’s stake, Frost Free Hanover accelerated around the final turn for Brian Zendt, leaving the pocket-sitting Kapow Hanover a distant second. Sneakin Caviar rallied from well back for show.
Leslie Zendt, who owns Frost Free Hanover with Bill Zendt, Sig Wolkomir and Fred Kayne, said the Cantab Hall-Free Spirit gelding is ticketed for the Harrisburg sale following appearances in the stallion series championship, the Keystone Classic and the Circle City.
Another Transcript, who lost all nine of his previous outings this year in some tough spots, also relished the stallion series competition, quarter-poling to the front and scoring in a career-best 1:55.3. He was 6-1/4 lengths better than Donatos Wish. Uriel earned show.
“He’s not a bad colt, but he’s been running up against some tough horses,” said Allan Johnson, who conditions the son of Donato Hanover-Lady Lifter for Carl Sackheim, who often names his horses for aspects of the legal profession. “He’s a useful horse. He’ll make us a few dollars.”
Hammered down to 1-2 in the wagering, Revrac Harbour performed like the prohibitive choice, quarter-poling to the front and scoring geared down in 1:55.1. Another Deposition (another Sackheim horse) was second, while It Really Matters completed the ticket.
“He does everything right,” Palone said. “I thought I’d let things settle and keep him out of trouble. He was well within himself. He can be a little funny with his mouth behind the gate — he can get pacey. So I let him get out of there on his own, and he was perfect.”
Tony Alagna trains the homebred son of Donato Hanover-Harbour Belle, who has won seven of 11 starts this year, for Howard Taylor, John Carver and Dandy Farms.
Palone drove six winners and Tony Hall five on the 16-race card.
Stake racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday, when the card features the Hickory Smoke, a $199,980 PA Sires Stake for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First post is 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)