Motive Hanover wins Monticello Open

Monticello, NY — With some of the tracks in the Northeast closing for the season, this week’s Open Pace at Monticello Raceway had an influx of new blood as the top three finishers made their first start in the $7,700 Open Pace on Tuesday (Nov. 9).

Motive Hanover scored in 1:55.3. Geri Schwarz photo.

The seven-horse field saw Motive Hanover, one of the newcomers, roar away from the gate first to quickly grab the lead, ticking off fractions of :29 and :58.4. Approaching the half, Cory Stratton pulled the favorite, Nui Ba Den N, to begin his chase. Greg Merton, aboard Motive Hanover, tapped the gas pedal to have a two length advantage, passing the three-quarter marker in 1:27.3. He had a margin of 2-1/4 lengths at the wire in 1:55.3. Finishing second was Niall Hanover (Bruce Aldrich Jr.), followed by Little Ben (Brandon Parker).

The winner, a well-traveled stout son of Well Said, is trained by Mark Ford and owned by George and Rose Bonomo, his long-time stable patron. Motive Hanover notched his seventh win of the season and pushed his seasonal earnings to just shy of $50,000.

Brandon Parker had a driving triple, and the red-hot Cory Stratton had a driving double, following his triple from the previous day.

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