Northfield, OH – Ohio native, Brett Miller, got the perfect trip with Ken Hanover, winning the $200,000 Grade 2 Battle of Lake Erie in world and track record fashion on Saturday (June 7) night at MGM Northfield Park.
This was Miller’s fourth victory in the Battle of Lake Erie, it had been 11 years since he took home the trophy. Miller previously won with Maltese Artist (2005, 2007) and Clear Vision (2014).
As expected there was a lot of speed early, with Dunkin’ (Kurt Sugg) hustled off the wings defending pylon position into the first turn with Ken Hanover advancing, parked on the outside and Seven Colors (Aaron Merriman) a ground saving third.
Entering the backstretch, Ken Hanover crossed over in front of Dunkin’ but Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley) was breathing down his neck on the outside.
Desperate Man and Ken Hanover dueled to a :26.2 first quarter.
Desperate Man finally worked his way past Ken Hanover entering the far turn for the first time. Kakaley was not going to get any breathers as Helium N (Dan Noble) flushed out Seven Colors as they turned into the stretch.
The field was double tiered past the half in a demanding :54.1, with Desperate Man doing all the dirty work.
Entering the backstretch, Kakaley stepped on the gas with Desperate Man and Noble flipped Helium N three-wide as he looked to advance on the leaders, but at the three quarters in a supersonic 1:21, Helium N began to stall.
Midway into the far turn, Ken Hanover who had saved ground from second, tipped to the outside and went by Desperate Man through the stretch. He won in a dual world and track record 1:48.3. Desperate Man had to settle for second, and local favorite Dunkin’ closed gamely to be third.
The previous world record of 1:48.4 was co-held by Dragon Striker (NFLD 2020), and Dancin Yankee (STGA 2014).
“He’s come back really good, knock on wood, hopefully the issues he had last year are behind him,” said winning trainer, Roland Mallar. “That’s a really good bunch of horses he faced tonight, you have to be on your best game on nights like these and he was tonight.”
The 5-year-old horse by Captaintreacherous is owned by Roland Mallar, Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan, and Dennis Osterholt. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, he continues his trek to $1 million pushing his career earnings to $813,904.