Fort Washington, MD — Allywag Hanover will need no introduction Thursday night at Rosecroft Raceway, where the 6-year-old gelding is scheduled to make a title defense in the $125,000 Potomac Pace.

The Brett Pelling-trained multi-millionaire pacer is set to make his third start in Rosecroft’s marquee race, which will be renewed in the 12th race on a 14-race program.

Allywag Hanover has won 27 races and more than $2 million in earnings during his 69-race career. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

His performance in the Potomac Pace race last year figures to be tough act to follow, having set a world record on a five-eighths-mile track with a sizzling 1:46.4 clocking in a mild upset victory over favored Tattoo Artist in the mile feature. The son of Captaintreacherous made amends for a second-place finish behind Enavant as the 1-2 favorite in the 2021 Potomac Pace.

“He’s a bit of an iron horse,” said Pelling, whose Potomac Pace champion has won 27 races and more than $2 million in earnings during his 69-race career.

Allywag Hanover, who enters the Potomac Pace on an uncharacteristic four-race losing streak, is rated third at 6-1 behind 6-5 program favorite Bythemissal and 8-5 Tattoo Artist. The defending champion is coming off a fourth-place finish behind Bythemissal in the Breeders Crown Open, in which Tattoo Artist finished third.

“He’s a year older and has had lots and lots of tough miles. I don’t think he’s had the right kind of trips this year that he likes,” Pelling said. “His last two races at Hoosier Park were very, very good. They weren’t his kind of trips.”

After finishing second behind Bythemissal in the Breeders Crown elimination, Allywag Hanover drew post 10 and started in the second tier in the Breeders Crown Open.

“Being on the second line, I would say it was definitely a factor,” Pelling said.

Allywag Hanover’s trainer is hopeful that his veteran pacer and driver Todd McCarthy can work out a trip from post four Thursday night.

“I think he’s a confidence horse. I think his confidence goes up when he does get the right kind of trips. When he gets to race the way he wants to, he gets brave,” Pelling said. “Even though he’s a great horse, there’s still that element of confidence that he needs.”

Things went his way in last year’s Potomac Pace, in which he sat in the pocket behind Tattoo Artist before kicking in powerfully in the stretch.

“It was a trip to his liking. He can do a lot of things. He does like being down on the cones on the last turn. I’ve just noticed that with him time and time again,” Pelling said. “When he’s on the outside and he’s having to work forward, it stops him from being awesome.”

Tattoo Artist looks to turn the tables on Allywag Hanover

Scheduled to stand at stud in New Jersey next year, Let It Ride Stables, Bottom Line Racing and Frank Cannon’s Tattoo Artist will seek to add the $125,000 Potomac Pace to his extensive resume Thursday night at Rosecroft Raceway.

Tattoo Artist has won 40 races and more than $2.7 million. USTA/Ken Weingartner photo.

The 6-year-old son of He’s Watching will attempt to turn the tables on Allywag Hanover in the process. Tattoo Artist set the pace in last year’s Potomac Pace before finishing second behind Allywag Hanover.

Tattoo Artist has won 40 races and more than $2.7 million while competing at harness racing’s highest level for five years.

“He’s just been a dream,” Let It Ride Stables’ Eric Cherry said. “He’s standing in Jersey next year and we’re breeding 30-35 mares of our own to him.”

Tattoo Artist had won seven races in a row prior to finishing third behind Bythemissal after setting the pace in the Breeders Crown Open last time out over the seven-eighths-mile track at Hoosier Park.

“A lot of times the horses from behind benefit from the stretch because the ones in front aren’t used to a stretch that long,” said Cherry, a Boca Raton, Fla. businessman. “When you see horses getting nailed or almost getting nailed, it’s because of the length of the stretch. Nothing against it. It’s just that they’re not used to it.”

Tattoo Artist and driver Luis Roy will leave from the rail post position Thursday night.

“I’m not really thrilled. It is what it is. We’ll deal with it. The way Rosecroft goes, you don’t always seem to get away as good from the rail, but if any horse can do it, it’s definitely him,” Cherry said.