by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

Chester, PA — Filibuster Hanover continued his season-opening win streak Sunday (May 27), capturing the $150,000 Commodore Barry Invitational for older male pacers by one length over Heaven Rocks A in 1:48.3 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Rodeo Romeo finished third.

It was the fourth victory in as many races this year for Filibuster Hanover, who in his previous start won the Confederation Cup.

Filibuster Hanover continued his season-opening win streak Sunday, capturing the $150,000 Commodore Barry Invitational for older male pacers.

“He’s always had the speed, but his brain was a little bit the problem,” winning driver Yannick Gingras said. “It took him a little while to figure things out, but now he’s really figuring out what racing is all about. He was great again today.”

Filibuster Hanover got away second as Mach It So charged from post eight to get the lead in a :26 opening quarter-mile. Mach It So remained on top through a half in :53.3 and three-quarters in 1:20.4 before dropping back and finishing eighth. Filibuster Hanover grabbed the lead prior to the stretch and paced to victory as the 6-5 favorite on an unseasonable cool, damp, windy day.

“It worked out great,” Gingras said. “I didn’t want to have him on the front today on this track, so I was looking to follow maybe (Heaven Rocks A) and be second-over or something like that. When we left, it looked like I was going to get away sixth if I took back. I thought (Mach It So) would be a good one to follow.”

Filibuster Hanover, a son of Somebeachsomewhere out of Fashion Ecstasy, topped the million-dollar level in career earnings with his victory Sunday. The 4-year-old gelding has won 11 of 37 lifetime races and banked $1.01 million. He is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, Joseph DiScala Jr., J&T Silva Stables, and the Weaver Bruscemi partnership.

Last year, Filibuster Hanover won five of 20 races. His triumphs included the Little Brown Jug and a division of the Bluegrass Stakes. He finished second in the Monument Circle, Matron, and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship.

Filibuster Hanover paid $4.40 to win Sunday.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

Shartin N was a 1:49.3 winner in the Betsy Ross for older pacing mares.

In the $150,000 Betsy Ross for older female pacers, 6-5 favorite Shartin N dueled with leader Pure Country before getting to the front prior to the three-quarter mark and winning by a half-length over Blue Moon Stride in 1:49.3. Divas Image was third.

“That’s quite a good trip she went; she was pressed for a long ways,” winning trainer Jim King Jr. said. “Any time a horse races for five-eighths of a mile (first-over) like she did, that’s a long ways.”

Shartin N, owned by Richard Poillucci and Jo Ann Looney-King, has won 10 of 12 races this year and earned $418,975. Her victories this season include the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series championship, as well as three preliminary divisions of the event, and the Sam “Chip” Noble Memorial.

For her career, the 5-year-old daughter of Tintin In America-Bagdarin has won 17 of 25 starts and $495,092.

“I don’t think I’ve had one like her before, that’s for sure,” King said. “At the moment, I don’t see an end. I’m sure there is one, and it’s closer than I want it to be. But she’s a good girl. She’s had a hard year already. We’ll get her rested up a little for the next venture up in Canada in the Roses Are Red.”

Shartin N paid $4.40 to win.