Undefeated freshman Shalom Hanover imposed his will on his five rivals with a 1:49.4 victory in the first of two $40,000 Metro Pace eliminations on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Shalom Hanover drafted behind Rose Run Cowboy (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) into the first turn, then slid in third while that foe moved on to the front nearing a :26.2 quarter. Shalom Hanover eased to the top for Louis-Philippe Roy, set middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:23.2, and motored away by 4-1/2 lengths over Th Theo (Doug McNair). Cattletracks (Scott Zeron) was third, followed by Rose Run Cowboy and L A Captain (Bob McClure).
Shalom Hanover, another young pacing phenom for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, captured his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) Final on Sept. 7 following Grade 3 scores in the Nassagaweya and Dream Maker. The Papi Rob Hanover-Sammys Magic Girl colt has amassed $452,891 in bankroll for Shalom Hanover Stable of Cambridge, Ont. He returned $2.10.
Eastie Boy dominated the five-horse second elimination for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Ron Burke. The son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer stepped to the front from post four, settling onto the lead on the first turn before strolling through :28, :58 and 1:25.2 fractions. After peeling away through the stretch, Eastie Boy was wound down as he crossed the line a two-length winner in 1:52 over a sprinting Global Choice (James MacDonald). Big D Energy (Mark MacDonald) took third, with Vainqueur (Dexter Dunn) fourth and High Rise Hanover (J.R. Plante) completing the field.
Eastie Boy, the show finisher to Shalom Hanover in their PASS Final, won for the third time in eight starts while growing his bankroll to $247,653. The homebred races for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phil Collura. He paid $2.50 to win.
The draw for the $1 million Grade 1 Metro Pace, as well as that of the $1 million Grade 1 Mohawk Million for two-year-old trotters, will take place during the Mohawk Park pre-show on Monday. The finals of those events, along with the Canadian Trotting Classic, Shes A Great Lady and Elegantimage — all Grade 1s — are set for Saturday, Sept. 26.
Ervin Hanover blitzed to a 1:48.1 victory in the $44,000 Open Pace for his third win in three starts against top-level overnight competition at Mohawk this year. Dexter Dunn had the Dave Menary trainee on top passing the :27.1 quarter and in total control through :55.1 and 1:22.2 middle-half fractions. Ervin Hanover then barrelled home in :25.4, cruising in deep-stretch to a 3-1/2-length victory over Dublin Dasher (Travis Cullen). Dalton Shard N (Tyler Borth) rolled up in the stretch for third.
Ervin Hanover is five-for-eight this season, including wins in the Mohawk Gold Cup and Dave Brower Memorial. Canada’s 2025 Older Pacing Horse of the Year tallied his 31st career victory and built his bankroll to $1,925,024 in his 83rd lifetime start. The son of Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace is owned by Pollack Racing LLC. He paid $2.50 to win.
Exactly Correct and Illicit Behavior won the $30,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots leg-five divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Exactly Correct ($2.10) is three-for-four in the series following a 1:49.4 tally for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Camilla Christoforou. The Bettors Delight-In Other Words gelding has won seven of 13 seasonal starts.
Illicit Behavior ($51) gutted out a tough stretch drive after an uncovered move to upset at 24-1 in the second split with Bob McClure at the lines. The Shawn Steacy-trained Bettors Delight-Pettycoat Business colt took his third win in 15 seasonal outings.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)