Don Bielak, publicity director, Freehold Raceway

FREEHOLD, NJ – – Beissinger Hanover, with Hall of Famer Mike Lachance in the sulky, found room in the stretch and rallied to win the $178,000 Dexter Cup final at Freehold Raceway on Saturday.

Lachance drove Beissinger Hanover quickly from post one at the start and parked the odds-on favorite, Self Obsessed (Ray Schnittker), through the opening quarter mile which was timed in 28.3.

Self Obsessed cleared the lead and controlled the pace past the half mile in 58.4 and the three panel station in 1:27.3. At that point, American Mike (Ron Pierce), who had been steadily moving up on the outside since the midway point of the mile, joined the pacesetter. Those two raced as a team around the final turn and into the stretch with Beissinger Hanover still racing on the rail behind the leaders.

Through the stretch, Self Obsessed and American Mike continued their head to head battle as Lachance angled Beissinger Hanover off the rail and to the middle of the track for the final drive.

Nearing the finish, American Mike took a short lead but Lachance put Beissinger Hanover under a strong drive and the NJ-sired son of Self Possessed responded with a surge at the wire to prevail in a blanket finish by a nose in 1:57.1. American Mike held stubbornly for second. Coyote Creek (Stephen Smith), who had been racing along the rail for most of the mile, got clear late and finished a neck back in third. Self Obsessed finished fourth but made a break at the wire and was placed fifth.

“My colt was very good today,” Lachance said. “He was even better in his elimination last week, but he didn’t get a trip – today he left from the rail and got a two-hole trip.”

Lachance wasn’t sure how Beissinger Hanover would react when asked to leave quickly from the rail on a half-mile track. “He’s a big colt and I didn’t know if he get away that quick, but he did just fine,” Lachance added.

Pierce had praise in defeat for his colt. “He was awfully good today,” Pierce said. “I was able to leave and tuck in third, but then I had to come first-over. Around the last turn, I knew I could get by the leader, but I was concerned about Mike’s horse (Beissinger Hanover). He got a good trip and looked like he had a lot of trot. I went on enough to make sure he couldn’t beat us on the passing lane.”

Ray Schnittker, driver of the beaten favorite, Self Obsessed, said his horse had no real excuse. “He didn’t warm up that good today,” said Schnittker. “He really didn’t have any reason to make that break, either.”

Schnittker was philosophical about the loss. “That’s the thing about horse racing – you never know what’s going to happen, and the favorite doesn’t always win.”

Beissinger Hanover, who is eligible to the $1.2 Hambletonian at the Meadowlands in August, notched his third win of the year in four starts in capturing the Dexter Cup final. Overlooked in the wagering, the Ron Gurfein trainee returned a generous win mutuel of $42.80.