from the USTA Communications Department

Indianapolis, IN — Harfo Hanover brushed to the lead at the three-quarter pole and was never caught on his way to a 1:54.3 score in the $55,462 Fox Stake for 2-year-old open pacers on Wednesday (Aug. 13) at the Indiana State Fair.

The Always A Virgin-Harlow Hall colt is owned by Randy Bendis, William Varney and Reed Broadway. Jeff Cullipher is the trainer and Tyler Smith was in the sulky.

Harfo Hanover sat third for the opening half-mile of the race while Allstar Energy was in front at the :30.2 opening quarter and This Baby Rocks took over the lead at the :59.3 half-mile marker.

But Smith pulled Harfo Hanover out to take over the lead by the 1:27.1 three-quarter pole and he paced a final panel in :27.2 in drawing off to a 3-1/4 length margin over This Baby Rocks. Cantescapemydesire rallied to be third.

The win was the third in seven season’s starts for Harfo Hanover, who has now banked $93,981 in his freshman campaign.

Also on the all-stakes card was the $36,080 Ralph Wilfong Memorial Trot for freshman open trotters. In that event, William De Long and William Patrick De Long’s Stickem Buck came first over at the three-quarter pole, grabbed the lead by the head of the stretch and went on to a 1:59.1 victory for driver Ed Hensley and trainer Roger Welch.

The Big Stick Lindy-Aunt Lane gelding won for the third time in five lifetime starts, improving his 2014 bankroll to $70,540. Mance Hanover was second, 3-1/2 lengths behind the winner, while Cool Judgement finished third.

Also on the card were eight divisions of the Hoosier Stakes for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits and four divisions of the Horseman Stake for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.

Complete charts for all these races can be found at this link.