by Charlene Sharpe, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Charlene Sharpe

Laurel, DE — For trainer Marvin Callahan, amazing is the word that comes to mind when he thinks about star pupil Abelard Hanover.

The 5-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Allamerican Coed (Dragon Again) has won his last seven starts, increasing his bankroll to more than $400,000 and equaling a world record of 1:48f in the process. He is owned by Alvin Callahan, Suzanne Waskey and Pamela Price.

“He’s an amazing horse,” said Callahan, who trains a stable of 12 in Maryland. “No matter what he’s been asked to do he does it.

“He’s always making me say ‘Wow.’”

Lisa photo

Abelard Hanover has won 12 times so far in 2013, with earnings of $191,225.

Abelard Hanover, who sold as a yearling for $110,000 at the 2009 Lexington Selected Sale, came to Callahan’s barn about two years ago when his owner at the time was looking for someone to get him going as a 3-year-old. Although he’d raced at 2, he wasn’t as interested at 3.

Callahan said the equipment change that improved the gelding’s attitude occurred quite by accident. He was left to jog the stable’s horses as his father, Alvin, took those that were racing to the track one day. Callahan, working his way through nearly a dozen horses, didn’t realize he’d accidentally put an open bridle on Abelard Hanover until they were on the track. Instead of the horse’s typical lazy, uninterested manner, he was working his way around the track excitedly.

“He’s a totally different horse now,” Callahan said. “When he sees something he knows it’s time to go.”

Callahan said that minor change was enough to get Abelard Hanover back on track. When the owner opted to sell him, Callahan wasted no time in advising his father to buy him. He says there’s no question it was the right decision — Abelard Hanover has spent the last two years racking up wins against some of the best Open pacers on the East Coast.

As a 3-year-old, he made $48,120 and took a mark of 1:51.2f at Harrah’s Chester. The following year he really hit his stride, accumulating nine wins, seven seconds and two thirds from 33 starts. He also lowered his lifetime mark to 1:49.2f at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

He tailed off a bit toward the end of the year, still pacing miles in 1:50 but not hitting the board. Callahan was relieved to finally locate a small splint that was bothering the pacer. Once that was taken care of, he said, Abelard Hanover was again in peak condition.

“He’s been good as gold since then,” he said.

Halfway through 2013, he’s already earned just under $200,000. Seven of his 12 wins have been sub-1:50 miles.

“It’s amazing how much he can go,” Callahan said.

Driver Frank Milby, who’s piloted the pacer for five of his last seven wins, agrees.

“It seems like the fractions never bother him,” Milby said. “He’s the longest winded horse I’ve ever driven.”

Callahan credits Milby with coming to understand Abelard Hanover quickly.

“He and Frank fit like a glove on a hand,” he said. “He respects Frank and Frank respects him.”

While last week’s 1:48 world record win (equaling a mark set by the great Foiled Again) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was certainly impressive, Callahan believes Abelard Hanover’s mile the week before at Harrah’s Philadelphia may have been even more exciting to watch.

After leaving from the eight hole to cut the mile, Abelard Hanover came a third quarter in :26.4 and a final quarter in :26.2 to best his winners over competition by more than three lengths in 1:49.4.

Callahan admits that it was a mistake not to stake the 5-year-old and says he will spend the rest of the year racing wherever he can. He says regardless of where he’s racing though he expects to see plenty more good miles from the pacer.

“He has never taken a deep breath after a race this year,” Callahan said. “We have not found the bottom of him yet.”