by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — It doesn’t seem to matter what barn Haroun Hanover is in. He just keeps winning.

Last week trainer Andrew Adamcyzk claimed Haroun Hanover for $4,000 from the Danny Gill barn after the pacer was parked to the quarter in :28.3 and then toured the Mighty M oval in the stunning time of 1:56.3 for Jimmy Marohn, Jr. in the second leg of Monticello Raceway’s Name Your Price Claiming Series.

Geri Schwarz photo

Haroun Hanover was a 1:57.2 winner on Feb. 20.

However, on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 20) with the same $4,000 price tag, driver Greg Merton and the 7-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding romped to a three length triumph in 1:57.2 in the third and final preliminary leg of the Name You Price Claiming Series. It was Haroun Hanover’s sixth consecutive victory which ties him with four others for most wins in North America in 2013.

After stating from post seven, Merton zoomed Haroun Hanover to the front and made every pole a winning one. River Waltz N was second for Jimmy Devaux while Bruce Aldrich, Jr. got Multiple Choice home for third money. Sent off the odds-on favorite, Haroun Hanover paid $3.90 for win.

Meanwhile, in the paddock waiting patiently after the completion of the race for the judges to declare whom of the potential claimants won the draw as to who would take Haroun Hanover home, original owners Edward Hall and James Hall, along with their trainer, Danny Gill, cheered when that they got their horse back at what seems to be a bargain price of $4,000.

Now in the series final set for next Wednesday they won’t have to worry about losing their pacer again, at least not in the Name Your Price Series, because no claiming is allowed in the series finale.

A second Name Your Price Series preliminary was also contested on Feb. 20 and it turned out to be one of those proverbial cavalry charges to the finish line with Lastcomicstanding and Jimmy Devaux holding off a late rally by 20-1 shot Buzzd On Sudzz, in rein to Mike Forte, to score in a time of 1:59.1.

But when the field turned for home it appeared that the pacesetter Thomas John N, with Mike Simons in the pilot seat, would prevail, but the veteran New Zealand-bred 11-year-old gelding tired just yards before the wire and finished third in a tight place photo.

Last week Lastcomicstanding finished second to Haroun Hanover in a 1:56.3 clocking, but a good two-hole journey was good enough to give the 9-year-old Whelan Willie gelding his first seasonal triumph. Trained by Philip Bo Sowers for Mo Coo Inc. and Jonathan Klee Racing, Lastcomicstanding paid $8.80 for win.