by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA— Hockey Hanover extended his career unbeaten streak to seven in Wednesday’s(Aug 9) $160,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows, but he hadto share the spotlight with a human star — Andy Miller, who captured fourdivisions in the event for freshman colt and gelding trotters.
Miller won withLindy’s Big Bang, Im Your Captain, Mississippi Storm and Make It A Double — thelatter three trained by Julie Miller. Also taking splits were CanalettoHanover, I Know My Rights and Lindyinoverdrive.
Hockey Hanover extended his career unbeaten streak to seven in Wednesday’s $160,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows,
EnteringWednesday’s action, Hockey Hanover’s resume included victories in fourfairground stakes and a pair of stallion series legs, and he was just aseffective on the engine or rallying from mid-pack. On Wednesday, he zipped tothe lead from post five for trainer/driver Wilbur Yoder and repelled a sternchallenge from Patent Leather to defeat him by 1-1/4 lengths in a career-best1:56.3. Keystone Apache finished third.
“This colt, hejust digs in,” said Yoder of the Explosive Matter-Hotentrot Hanover gelding, a$10,000 yearling acquisition for McMullen Stable. “When he hears them coming,he just digs in and goes. You just sit there and go for a ride. He’s aCadillac.”
MississippiStorm, a Cantab Hall-Mississippi Beauty gelding who broke stride in his laststallion series leg, added hopples for Wednesday’s stake and was both reliableand swift on the front end, scoring in a stake-fastest 1:56.2 for owners AndyMiller Stable and Willow Oak Ranch. The first-over Checkmate Hill was second, 4lengths back, while Johny Victory completed the ticket.
“He would havebeen second last time, and I chased him a little bit and he made a break,”Miller said. “He was good today. He’s a good stallion series horse, and I thinkhe’ll be something later on, once he grows up a little. He’s just a littleguy.”
Chris Gooden photo
Andy Miller drove Mississippi Storm to victory in a stallion series split.
CanalettoHanover collected his second stallion series victory by controlling thefractions for Mike Wilder and holding off the late thrust of thepocketing-sitting Haveitalltogether and downing him by 3/4 lengths in 1:57.Gemologist earned show in his career debut.
“We had hisbrother, Centurion Hanover, and we took the money he made for us and boughtthis one,” said D.R. Ackerman, who owns and trains the son of AndoverHall-Charlotte Alber, a $35,000 yearling purchase. “Hopples have made him moresecure.”
Live racing atThe Meadows resumes Saturday, when the card features the Florida Pro, a$165,152 PA Sires Stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First post is1:05 p.m.