by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal Expo

Sacramento, CA — Cowboy Hanover, a classy 8-year-old pacer with $185,000 in the bank and a 1:51.2 mark, is set to make his seasonal debut for trainer Mark Anderson in Saturday night’s (May 5) featured Winners Over Pace at Cal Expo.

The son of Western Ideal has won 30 of his 145 appearances, including several huge miles over the Cal Expo layout, and was last seen doing his work at Running Aces in Minnesota last August. Lemoyne Svendsen will handle the lines.

There will be no shortage of serious rivals for Cowboy Hanover this weekend, as Racing Secretary Fred Kuebler has brought together an extremely talented cast for this clash at the head of the pacing class.

Joining Cowboy Hanover at the gate will be the likes of the razor-sharp Albion; the classy mare Haggin Oaks; the always-dangerous Split Ticket; and the returning Ivegotwhatuneed. One And Only, Stanza and Cycle Power will round out this powerful cast.

Tuning up for his return, Cowboy Hanover made a mockery of a qualifier here last weekend, going coast-to-coast with Svendsen in the sulky and apparently setting himself up perfectly for his official 2012 debut. He opened up 10 lengths at the head of the lane and cruised home with 5-1/2 to spare in the 1:56.2 mile.

“I had no intention of doing that, but he had ideas of his own,” Svendsen related. “He was fired up and wanted to go and I was a passenger. It was a real nice tightener for him.”

Cowboy Hanover had some pretty nice pacers in his wake, with Split Ticket finishing willingly for the runner-up spot as he looks to suit up again after capturing several top dances here earlier this season. This race promises to be a good one.

Beginning this week, Cal Expo is increasing purses by 25 percent. The increases will remain in effect through the end of the current meeting in June.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Friday (May 4) and Saturday (May 5) at 6 p.m. (PDT).