Eight-year-old Western Ideal gelding Adkins Hanover ($4.00) was hammered down to the even-money chalk on Sunday (September 17) at Truro Raceway, and the bay responded by putting forth a dominant performance in the $7,500 Johnny Conroy Memorial Invitational.
Pilot Ryan Ellis was up behind the Trevor Hicken trainee during the program’s featured dash, which was carded as Race 11.
A group of seven faced the gate for the Conroy Memorial, and that was the closest that the rest of the field would get to Adkins Hanover.
The gelding was fastest off the switch from Post 2 and paced down to the quarter in :27.3. Adkins Hanover maintained a consistent lead of roughly two and a half lengths through the opening half (:55.4) and down to the three-quarters pole, which he clicked off in 1:24.2.
Adkins Hanover had opened up a bit more daylight by the time he led the field into the stretch for the final time. He cruised home with a 30-second final panel and went on to stop the clock in 1:54.2. Adkins Hanover’s margin of victory was three and a quarter lengths.
His Boy Elroy (driven by Bernard McCallum) closed from the backfield and finished second. Carracci Hanover (Darren Crowe) took a two-hole ride through the fractions and finished third, beaten three and three-quarter lengths.
Adkins Hanover is owned by Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile, Quebec.
The victory was one of four driving wins for Ellis on the day, as he also steered Glenview Natalie ($5.90), N Expense ($6.60) and Dinger Two ($4.30) to victory.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Truro, click the following link: Sunday Results – Truro Raceway.