by Nicole Kraft, communications director, U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — Donato Hanover stamped himself the best trotter of his generation, and perhaps among the best of all time when he strode confidently down The Red Mile stretch and captured the 115th Kentucky Futurity in straight heats Saturday. Donato Hanover’s time in the second heat was a world record equaling 1:50.1.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Trainer Steve Elliott and driver Ron Pierce hold the coveted Kenucky Futurity trophy.

“The Kentucky Futurity is a race for the ages and it was won by a horse for the ages,” said announcer Sam McKee.

Donato Hanover is a perfect 11-for-11 in 2007, and has won 19 of 20 races overall.

Green Day took the lead right off the gate, with Donato Hanover getting away second and fellow elimination winner Flirtin Man third. John Campbell, however, was not content to wait with Flirtin Man, and he had the lead as the field went by the first quarter in :27 seconds.

Pierce sat chilly until the field was nearly to the half in :54.3, before he tipped Donato Hanover and easily rebuffed Campbell’s attempt to keep him parked.

The son of Andover Hall was under wraps around the three-quarters in 1:22.3, and Pierce virtually hand-drove him the whole way home, simply waving his whip to keep the colt’s attention as they crossed the wire, equaling the world’s fastest trotting mile set just six races earlier by Giant Diablo.

Arch Madness ended up second and Green Day third, with Standpoint fourth and Flirtin Man fifth. Please Poppy, Photo Maxx, Mythical Lindy and Rune rounded out the field after Pampered Princess scratched out of the final heat.

“John tried to take some sting out of my colt and see what happened,” said co-owner David Scharf. “We were racing against some very good horses. It’s been a great ride all year. This is fantastic — really special.”

Once the colt crossed the wire, caretaker Ann Christin Johnsen sprinted down the stretch, pumping her arm in the air, while trainer Steve Elliott cracked what might have been his first smile of the week.

He and Pierce shared a look of immense relief as they sat in the floral chair to celebrate what was surely one of the most anticipated Futurity victories in years.

“A lot of trainers keep horses for certain races, but this horse came out in his 2-year-old debut and finished third, and has then run off (19) straights (wins),” said Scharf. “He is at the top of his game — to go 1:51.1 and 1:50.1 in straight heats — Steve deserves a ton of credit.”

Plans call for Donato Hanover to head home to Showplace Farm in New Jersey in the early part of next week, and point toward the Breeders Crown eliminations on November 17. Scharf said he might also face older horses in a contest being planned at The Meadowlands after the Breeders Crown.

“This is probably never going to happen again,” said Scharf. “It’s very special.”

Donato Hanover, Flirtin Man win eliminations

Donato Hanover left no doubt he is the trotter to beat in the 2007 Kentucky Futurity, as he drew off under a hand drive to win the second $192,920 elimination by two lengths in 1:51.1.

It was the 10th win in 10 starts this year for the Hambletonian-winning son of Andover Hall, trained by Steve Elliott and leased by David Scharf, Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Donato Hanover drew off under a hand drive to win the second $192,920 elimination by two lengths in 1:51.1.

Ron Pierce drove Donato Hanover like the champion he is, letting him float easily off the gate and stride up to take the lead past the first quarter in :27.3.

The long-striding colt did not have the front long, however, as Mike Lachance ranged alongside with Canadian hopeful Val Taurus, and took the lead past the half in :54.4.

Pierce was comfortable to sit behind Val Taurus until they neared three-quarters in 1:24, ranging alongside and waiting until the lane to stretch out. Pierce barely raised his whip as Donato Hanover trotted away from the field. Arch Madness got up for second, while a fast-closing Pampered Princess was third. Please Poppy and Photo Maxx also made the final.

“It was real easy,” said Pierce. “This colt had been on the front so much this year, I thought I’d sit behind (Val Taurus) for a while. My horse felt really good and he wanted to go right around him, so I just let him.

“He was just as good today as I have seen him all year — maybe better.”

Flirtin Man sling-shotted off the final turn and drew off by 2-1/2 lengths to win the $192,920 first elimination heat of the 115th Kentucky Futurity Saturday at The Red Mile.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Flirtin Man drew off by 2-1/2 lengths to win the $192,920 first elimination heat of the 115th Kentucky Futurity.

The son of Angus Hall, driven by co-owner John Campbell, trotted in 1:52.2 to win his ninth race in 14 starts.

Flirtin Man, leaving from post six, sat sixth in the early going while Green Day, a $50,000 supplement, did the hard work on the front end and cut fractions of :28.1 and :56.3. Anderberg went first-over, followed by Up Front Larry, while Rune and Standpoint stayed along the rail. Flirtin Man moved third, and simply swept past the field around three-quarters in 1:24.1 to beat Standpoint and Green Day to the wire. Rune and Mythical Lindy also qualified for the final.

Flirtin Man, who had just one start as a 2-year-old, has suffered some physical challenges this year, with which he is just now learning to deal.

“He’s had some minor little stuff that green trotters have to learn to deal with,” said Campbell, who co-owns the trotter as part of Juniper II LLC, with Brittany Farms and Let It Ride Stables. “He didn’t race much last year to get experience, and some of his problems have popped up at the wrong time. When he is on his game, he gives a real good effort.”

Flirtin Man is trained by Gary Napierala, son-in-law of Hall of Fame trainer Chuck Sylvester.