Grove City, OH — At 10-1, Pelican Hanover not only won in a lifetime-best 1:57.4 but produced a mild upset on Tuesday (May 20) as MGM Northfield Park hosted five divisions of the first leg of 3-year-old filly trotters in the Buckeye Stallion Series, each with a $20,000 purse.
Driven by Kurt Sugg, Pelican Hanover won the second division over the 9-5 favorite Iwillmakeuproud As (Dan Noble) and Freedom Hill (Anthony MacDonald).
Leaving from post five, the Miles Wollam-trained filly settled in fifth as Iwillmakeuproud As led the field. Pelican Hanover moved first up as the field crossed the halfway mark in :58.4 and was second at the 1:28.3 three-quarters before a late surge powered her to her first seasonal victory.
Pelican Hanover was one of two Uncle Peter fillies to win a BSS race on Tuesday, as Up took the third division in 2:00 for her first victory of 2025.
Driver Tyler Angus had Up in the pocket behind leader I Bee Cream (MacDonald) as the field crossed each of the first three calls in :27.4, :57.4, and 1:27.3. The field tightened entering the final stretch as the even-money betting favorite Up, trained by Matthew Burkholder, made it three wide and passed Sudsnritz (Tyler Smith) and I Bee Cream for the win. Tankfullaluck (Crist Hershberger) rallied to take second while Sudsnritz finished third.
Burkholder also trained the winner of the fourth division, Sweet Rose’ (Aaron Merriman). Sweet Rose’ posted fractions of :29.1, :59.2, and 1:28.2, winning by a length in 1:59.1 over Jailhouse Pearl (Tyler Smith) and Pretty Lil Penny (Trevor Smith). The Marseille filly has won all three of her starts in 2025.
In the first division, heavy 1-9 favorite In The End (Noble) won by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2 ahead of Aunt Lilly (MacDonald) and Peterbuttercupcake (Justin Irvine). The Anette Lorentzon trainee by Lionhunter led the field at all three calls in :28.2, :59, and 1:28.2 en route to scoring her second win in three starts this season.
Wild As You (Tyler Smith) wrapped up the BSS races on Tuesday with a win in the fifth division. Trained by Chris Beaver, the Muscle Up The Goal filly led wire-to-wire, setting fractions of :28.4, :59.4, and 1:28.3 before crossing the finish in 1:58.4. Countn On Cc (Sugg) rallied for second over Deetz Lighting (Austin Hanners). Wild As You has hit the board in all five starts in 2025 with two wins and $26,500 in earnings.
The 2025 Buckeye Stallion Series continues on Friday and Saturday (May 23-24) with the opening legs for 3-year-old colt trotters and 3-year-old colt pacers at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The 16-race card on Friday will feature six divisions of colt trotters, and Saturday’s 16-race card includes eight divisions of colt pacers. Post time for both days is 5:52 p.m.