Yonkers, NY – It was a change of tactic for Lean Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr., $15.20) Saturday night (Jan. 11), that served him well in winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Lean Hanover won the season’s first Open Handicap Trot at Yonkers Saturday night. Mike Lizzi Photo.

Usually an off-the-pace number, Lean Hanover—from assigned post position four—made the first lead in the first adult-table trot of the season. He then deferred to second-choice Swansea (Austin Siegelman).

The latter put up intervals of :27.4, 57.3 and 1:26.3, with minimal first-up grief from just-over-even-money favorite Will Take Charge (Jordan Stratton).

Swansea owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but was unable to stall the pocket sitter. Lean Hanover edged out and by, the margin a head in 1:55.1. Hill of a Horse (Brent Holland) rallied for third, with Trotting Grace (Matt Kakaley) and Obrigado (Dan Dube) settling for the minors. Will Take Charge backpedaled to last among the half-dozen.

For third choice Lean Hanover, a now-7-year-old Donato Hanover gelding co-owned by P C Wellwood Enterprises & Karen Carroll, it was a successful seasonal debut for an 18th career victory. The exacta paid $34.20, the triple returned $406 and the superfecta paid $723.