Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings took center stage during the Labour Day card at Chester Downs, with Salutation Hanover delivering the strongest performance during Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action.
Sent off as the prohibitive 1-10 favourite in his division, Salutation Hanover sat just off dueling leaders Mr Sisson (driven by Tony Morgan) and Y Dat (Doug Snyder) through a first quarter of :28.3.
Coming past the stands, Dave Palone edged the Andover Hall-Swift Kathy colt off the cones, brushing to the front and securing the lead before reaching the half in :58.1. Salutation Hanover drew clear of the field up the backstretch, leading a tiring Y Dat by four and half lengths as they entered the far turn.
Past a three-quarter split of 1:27.3, Palone was confident of victory. "Past three-quarters, I thought he was home and there's no sense in making a mistake, so I pretty much shut him down on the last turn," commented Palone.
The margin Salutation Hanover amassed was plenty for the win, as he coasted home by four and a quarter lengths in 1:57.4 under minimal urging. Earl H (John Campbell) came on to be second, with Y Dat holding third.
"He's been ultra-consistent all year," added Palone. "He's very versatile - he can race over any surface - and that's a big plus in Pennsylvania."
Mickey Burke trains Salutation Hanover for co-owners Sylvia Burke, Randy Ringer, Frank Baldachino, and David Scharf.
Even Better Odds (1:59.4, John Campbell) and Citation Lindy (1:58.2, Ray Schnittker) -both sired by Cantab Hall -won their respective divisions, with Braggart (1:58.3, Tony Morgan) and NF Quotable (1:59.1, Tim Curtin) also victorious.
Live racing returns to Chester on Wednesday, September 3, with first post slated for 12:25 p.m. (ET).
Click here to view Chester's charted lines from Monday.
(Chester)