Kicking off the cones around the final turn, Easy Lover Hanover charged past pacesetter Physicallyinclined to take the $34,000 Preferred Pace in 1:49.3 on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Physicallyinclined took control from Nirvana Seelster passing a :26.3 opening quarter while Easy Lover Hanover sat behind in third. Still stalking a quick clip through a :54.3 half, driver Bob McClure gave Easy Lover Hanover his cue circling the final turn and approaching three-quarters in 1:22.2. The six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding ranged alongside Physicallyinclined and darted to a two-length lead turning into the stretch. East End, who rode the favourite’s cover, gave chase in second while Royal Renegade, from third over, took third.
Trained by Ben Wallace for owner Brad Grant, Easy Lover Hanover won his fourth race from 11 starts this season and his 38th from 95 overall, earning $895,449. He paid $3.80 to win.
Earlier in the card Double A Mint went wire to wire while holding off pocket-pouncer Kendall Seelster in the $30,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace. Driver Louis-Philippe Roy launched the Richard Moreau trainee to the top from post 8, clearing Kendall Seelster past a :26.3 opening quarter.
From there the four-year-old Bettors Delight mare faced little pressure through middle fractions of :54.4 and 1:22.4. Kendall Seelster made her move after the favourite through the stretch and gradually gained ground the leader, but fell a neck short of victory in the 1:50 mile. Cousin Mary, caught behind poor cover from second over, kicked around horses to take third.
Owned by Adriano Sorella, Double A Mint won her 12th race from 22 starts this season and her 18th from 52 overall, earning $554,531. The $4.50 winner donated a portion of her earnings from the win to Evan’s Legacy, named for Evan Leversage after he died in 2015 at age seven due to an inoperable brain tumor. The funds raised go to fund directed research into pediatric brain cancers.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.