by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Lightly raced Frost Free Hanover stalked from the pocket, then fired through the Lightning Lane to capture Monday’s (April 21) $33,750 championship of the TSM Photo Bugger Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden photo

Tony Hall piloted Frost Free Hanover to a lifetime best 1:56.1 triumph.

Although he won last week on the engine, Frost Free Hanover rated kindly for Tony Hall before his decisive move that put away the leader, Andover The Gold. The Cantab Hall-Free Spirit gelding scored in a career-best 1:56.1, two lengths better than the rallying Jett Star. Upfront Billy Boy was third.

Leslie Zendt, who trains Frost Free Hanover and owns with Bill Zendt, Sig Wolkomir and Fred Kayne, said she worried that he wouldn’t respond well when asked to pass inside.

“He’s very, very green, and he’s not the brightest horse all the time,” she said. “I was a little concerned about him going Lightning Lane. But he was a trooper. He was a racehorse.”

A $15,000 yearling purchase, Frost Free Hanover raced only once at 2, finishing a well-beaten fifth, before being turned out.

“He was just an immature colt,” she said. “He’s tall and lanky, and we knew he’d be better as he got older. We didn’t want to take a chance on hurting him as a 2-year-old.”

She said Frost Free Hanover will be pointed to Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and the Currier & Ives.

In the $15,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred Pace, Do Me Honor also collected a Lightning Lane triumph when she edged Certified Ideal by a nose in 1:52.1, with Phone Terror third. Aaron Merriman piloted the 6-year-old Cheyenne Rei-Do Me Right mare, who now boasts $416,098 in career earnings, for owner/trainer Bill Bercury.

Dave Palone drove four winners on the 15-race card while Hall and Merriman each fashioned a triple.