by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Du Quoin, IL — Donato Hanover was tracked by Adrian Chip nearly every step of the mile, except for the ones that come just before the finish line, to win the $600,000 World Trotting Derby by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:51.2 on Saturday afternoon (September 1) at the Du Quoin (Illinois) State Fair. Neither the stakes or world record were in jeopardy on the 82 degree, breezy day, with the breeze hitting the horses in the face down the backstretch.

Timothy M. Jones photo

Donato Hanover (Ron Pierce) drew off in the stretch for a 3-1/2 length victory in the World Trotting Derby.

As the field came off the gate, Xactly Hanover made a break, with Donato Hanover on the lead for a few seconds until just past the :27 quarter before Adrian Chip went around him to get the lead briefly. Donato re-took the lead within seconds. With Adrian Chip (Robert Bergh) virtually stuck to Pierce’s helmet through the :56 half, those two also led the field to the 1:24.2 three-quarters.

As the field turned for home, Adrian Chip had moved out from behind Donato for the stretch drive. While he briefly cast a shadow over Donato, he couldn’t get to his wheel as Pierce and Donato Hanover trotted off to a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:51.2. Adrian Chip was second, Anderberg was third, Rune finished fourth and Great Success was fifth. The rest of the field in order was Prayer I Am, Standpoint, Superior Judge and Xactly Hanover.

Donato Hanover is trained by Steve Elliott and leased by David Scharf, the Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold. It was the 14th consecutive win for Donato Hanover, who has now won $1,336,000 for the year and $1,998,000 in his career. He’ll head next to the Canadian Trotting Classic, his trainer Steve Elliott said after the race.

Elliott was never concerned about the brief lead held by Adrian Chip. “I think he’d rather be following somebody, he likes to race,” said Elliott. “On the front end, that’s where you want to be, but he’s a much better horse from behind.”

Elliott says the horse has all the patience needed for a following trip. “He’s two fingers (to drive), he’s a Cadillac. When he gets behind the gate, that’s when he knows he’s racing, other than that, he just does what he’s supposed to do.”

Elliott made a few equipment adjustments for the race. “We took all the grab off him (his shoes) for here. This is a nice track, they’ve got it in great shape, they’ve done a heck of a job with it.”

Donato was also racing without a Murphy Blind bridle. “We took that all off when we qualified him (at the Red Mile on August 23).”

Elliott was unconcerned with the time, a full second slower than the stakes and world record. “If it worked out right, we were going to go for the world record, but the main thing was winning the race.”

Timothy M. Jones photo

Trainer Steve Elliott and caretaker A.C. Johnsen in the winner’s circle with Donato Hanover.

Asked about what kept the colt from a record, Elliott laughed, “The :56 half. I’d have liked to stay behind Adrian Chip but I can’t complain about the mile after all he’s (driver Ron Pierce) done with this horse. If you lose the race, then you might say, ‘Well….’ but until you lose one, you can’t complain.

“Ronnie said, ‘We’re going to take it as it comes (the chance for a world record).’ You know, world records are nice, but everything’s got to set up perfect for you and being breezy…..they’ve got the track super, I think if he’d gotten to the half a little faster, the mile would have gone a little faster, but we didn’t want to set it up for somebody following us to get a good record. The main thing was to win the race. When you’re going for $600,000, you don’t want to be just throwing it out the window.”

Driver Ron Pierce sprinted across the track moments after the winner’s circle photos were taken to catch a plane to the Breeders Crown races to be held tonight at Mohawk Racetrack outside Toronto.