After coming off starts in the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park and the Vincennes at the Meadowlands where he finished third in a 1:49.4 mile, Delayed Hanover returned to overnight action in the $34,722 Open Handicap trot on Thursday, Aug. 8 at The Ridge and notched his second win of the year.
Mark Whitcroft and Delayed Hanover got away third to Big Al M (Matty Athearn) who got to the quarter in :27.4. But at that station, Whitcroft was out and rolling with Delayed Hanover, who took control of the race in front of the stands. Delayed Hanover made the turn and trotted up the backside to three-quarters in 1:24.1 as the tripping Big Al M made a move to the outside and got within a length of the leader in the far turn. However, that would be as close as he would get; when they hit the stretch, Delayed Hanover was gone as he trotted away to a 3-3/4 length win in 1:53.1.
It was the 17th career win for Delayed Hanover ($3.00) who pushed his lifetime earnings to $704,320. The six-year-old son of Southwind Frank-Dont Wait Up is owned by Reid Wissner and trained by Kevin Mc Dermott.
There was a special $27,778 conditioned race for older Massachusetts-bred trotters And Raybarnz (Ivan Davies) scored his first win of the year. After going to the front, Raybarnz flashed fractions of :27.3, :58 and 1:26 while opening up a three length lead at that last station. Raybarnz turned for home and held off the pocket-sitting Poppy Wow (Jimmy Hardy) to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.4.
Raybarnz ($7.80) is owned by Shirley Michaud and trained by his driver, Davies.
Kevin Switzer Jr. had a driving hat trick on Thursday while trainer Rob Harmon sent two from his stable to the winner’s enclosure.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday, Aug. 12 with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $1,311 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)