by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

Sacramento, CA — His driver lost his whip in his last, and the week before the pacer made a break, so with all working out for both horse and driver, Hanover D G N got himself a new lifetime mark.

Claiming handicap pacers, in to be claimed from $18,000 to $25,000, competed for the winner’s share of a $6,300 purse on Wednesday night (April 25) at Cal-Expo, in which Hanover D G N upset.

In advance of starting from post position five in the field of eight, driver Jim Lackey noted that the track surface would help his horse.

“He hits his knees and the track was hard tonight — which is a better track for a knee-knocker,” said Lackey. “I thought I’d leave with him and try to get him into the race, plus it looked like it was pretty hard to come from behind tonight. I felt, in a very competitive field, that with the right trip, that he had a chance.”

Leaving sharply past the start, Hanover D G N would obtain the lead an eighth of a mile past the start before yielding to Auric Aura (Ed Hensley) well after the field had traveled 3-16ths of a mile. The 6-year-old, however, would then gap two lengths at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.1, but Lackey wasn’t concerned.

“Him gapping wasn’t anything because you have to be a little careful with him in the turn.”

Pretty much closing the gap at the three-eighths-mile pole, but soon to be in the three hole as a result of Temptation (Tim Maier) clearing a second quarter move at the half-mile pole, timed in :56, Lackey would now have a choice to make going into the final turn.

“Temptation had been extended pretty good for the lead and Timmy (Maier) took a hold of his horse looking for a breather. As a result, the pace started to slow up a little bit. At that point I was just trying to figure out what to do, especially with The Dark Side (Rick Plano) coming with a lot of momentum.”

Electing to pull first-over at the five-eighths-mile pole, Hanover D G N would start to gain and pace up to the throatlatch of Temptation at the three-quarter-mile pole, timed in 1:24.2, while now second.

“My horse got to Temptation’s saddlepad and felt good doing it. Given that my horse is a very honest horse, plus the fact that he usually picks it up a little in the last straightaway, I thought he had a chance.”

Taking a slim lead into the stretch while now under urging, Hanover D G N would draw clear by a length at the seven-eighths-mile pole, all while Lackey knew what to expect from his charge.

“He’s not a quitter, but there were good horses following him. It was just a matter if they could out-foot him.”

Maintaining the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to go, while now all-out, Hanover D G N now had to deal with his uncoupled stablemate Hidden Dragon N (Rick Kuebler), who was closing fast on the far outside.

“I saw Hidden Dragon N coming and just drove as hard as I could to the wire, with the thoughts that whatever happened, happened.”

Holding on to win ($47.40) by a half length, the Bob and Loretta Staats owned, and Bob Johnson trained New Zealand bred would stop the timer at 1:52.2, a career best. Hidden Dragon N, who was getting to the winner, finished in second and Temptation, who fought hard, was another 1-3/4 lengths farther back in third.

“It was a nice record for the horse, albeit the track was pretty fast. He’s a very, very honest horse who always tries real hard. It was nice that he could collect the win,” Lackey finished.

Live racing resumes at Cal-Expo on Thursday, April 26, continuing through Saturday. Post time each night is at 5:35 p.m. (PDT). On Thursday, Cal-Expo offers Fiesta Thursdays, in which fans can enjoy $2.00 frozen margaritas and tacos!

Cal-Expo offers guaranteed $10,000 pools on all Pick-4’s!