by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Despite a wire-to-wire, 1:57.3 triumph with Haroun Hanover in the eighth race at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon (April 2), driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. had his hands full.

However, it wasn’t until the race was completed that most of Marohn’s problems really began as he couldn’t pull the horse up after the mile.

Geri Schwarz photo

Haroun Hanover won his tenth race of 2013 on Tuesday at Monticello.

Since the pacer first came here last fall, Haroun Hanover has been known to pass on the return to the winner’s circle. And that quirk, which has been part of the pacer’s habits this year, was never more prevalent than it was on April 3.

“There were a few times earlier this year when I couldn’t stop him after the race and had to go around the track again until I had him under control,” Marohn related from the paddock judge’s office telephone after he and the pacer were both safely settled back in the race paddock.

“But today, he was extra tough. I couldn’t stop him even after I went around two extra times. On the third trip around, the starting gate came on the track — without the wings opened — and I aimed him squarely behind the car. Finally I got him under control as the groom grabbed him by the paddock gate and walked him back to his race stall.

“I don’t know what got into him today; all I knew was that I wasn’t going to pull on him because I figured he’d get tired sooner or later. But today he was stronger than I thought.

“Last week I tried to race him (Haroun Havover) out of a hole and he came up short so this week I knew right from the get-go that I’d put him on the front-end,” Marohn said of the pacer he had driven to nine wins prior to his race on April 3. “Every race that we won this year was on the front-end.”

So on Tuesday afternoon Marohn let his pacer ramble to the lead as the wings of the mobile gate folded and Haroun Hanover made it look easy as the 7-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding went through his paces, rebuffing any and all challenges and then cruising to an easy two length triumph in a time of 1:57.3.

Fox Valley Renoir, with a perfect two hole journey, finished second for Zeke Parker while No Gin and Bruce Aldrich, Jr. were third.

“He’s got a big engine, but man is he a handful,” Marohn added, referring to Haroun Hanover’s shenanigans.

Owned by Ed Hall and James Hall and trained by Danny Gill, Haroun Hanover paid $2.90 for win.

Now with 10 seasonal wins, Haroun Hanover is currently second in races won this year in North America. That gives the Mighty M a 1-2 punch because another Monticello Raceway pacer, Tracys Song, is the North American leader with 11 wins.