Legendary Hanover set the tone on a huge day of stakes action on Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Meadowlands with a track- and stakes-record 1:46.2 performance in the first major stakes event of the day — the $344,444 Cane Pace, for sophomores. James MacDonald guided the son of Huntsville from the Well Said mare Lillian Hanover to his second straight stakes winning performance, following a blowout 2-1/2-length victory in the Meadowlands Pace.
With just five horses in the field, MacDonald settled Legendary Hanover in third in the early stages as Captain Luke and Scott Zeron took control in the first turn ahead of Captains Quarters with Jody Jamieson. Following the :26.2 first quarter fraction, Jamieson sent Captains Quarters to regain command. MacDonald didn’t waste time with the Anthony Beaton-trained Legendary Hanover and quickly moved to challenge for the lead. Captains Quarters didn’t yield easily, but Legendary Hanover cleared before reaching the half in :52.4.
Despite little in the way of challenges, MacDonald didn’t ease up on Legendary Hanover, who paced a :26.3 third quarter to hit that marker in 1:19.2 with only Captains Quarters close enough to threaten in the homestretch. Those threats was short-lived as MacDonald called on Legendary Hanover, intent on posting a quick clocking. The colt responded in kind with a blistering :27 final fraction, coming just a fifth short of Confederate’s world record mark for three-year-olds of 1:46.1, taken last year at Lexington’s Red Mile.
Mirage Hanover rallied strongly for Tim Tetrick to gain second late over Captains Quarters as Captain Luke and Remember Alamo rounded out the order of finish.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Legendary Hanover, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, returned $2.40 to win.
Owned by Eric Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain, Legendary Hanover was a winner for the fifth time in eight starts this year, capturing a leg of pacing’s Triple Crown while becoming harness racing's newest millionaire in the process.
“He’s a special horse,” said MacDonald in the winner’s circle. “He has a never-ending set of lungs.”
With the win, Legendary Hanover now sports a lifetime bankroll of $1,163,014.
(with files from Hambletonian Society)