Taking full advantage of post and position in the race, Climate Hanover ($5.10) scored an impressive victory in the $8,500 Open Mares Pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 30).
Starting from the pylons, Climate Hanover (Drew Monti) yielded the lead to a hard-charging Country Delight (Jack Flanigen), who left from post eight. With the field then following the leader in post-position order, Country Delight led the girls to a modest :58 half.
Past that station, Call Me Maybe (Shawn McDonough) was motoring on the outside and drew near-even with the leader at three-quarters in 1:26.4. Those two then battled on top until the head of the stretch when the passing lane opened and left clear passage for the pocket-sitting Climate Hanover to shoot through and pull away to a two-length victory in 1:55.4.
The win was the seventh of the year for the five-year-old Western Ideal mare and the winner’s share of the purse boosted her 2015 income to $57,284 for owner James Caradori. Climate Hanover is trained by Darrin Monti.
Climate Hanover’s triumph capped off a three-win night for driver Drew Monti, who also took post-race pictures with Maradona ($14.60) and Old Mcheath ($11.40). Drivers Dave McNeight III and Ray Fisher Jr. also had driving doubles.
(Batavia Downs)