courtesy Standardbred Canada

Campbellville, ON — Trainer Jimmy Takter scored his second stakes wins on the card with Uffizi Hanover in the C$457,500 Fan Hanover Final on Saturday at Mohawk, part of the Pepsi North America Cup night.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Uffizi Hanover captured the Fan Hanover Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies in 1:50.4.

While Uffizi Hanover and driver Dave Miller got away third, Take That Hanover took command then clocked the opening panel in :26. When Uffizi Hanover made a bid for the lead, so did Nat A Virgin, who went three-wide before reaching the front. Nat A Virgin proceeded to put up the half in :54.4 and three quarters in 1:23.2.

Into the lane, Uffizi Hanover was angled out of the pocked spot. Nat A Virgin and elimination winner Uffizi Hanover battled for the lead and it was Uffizi Hanover who was victorious by 1-1/4 lengths. The 8-5 favorite stopped the teletimer in 1:50.4. Nat A Virgin was second and Take That Hanover was third.

“We had the good post, the inside, so I used it to our advantage and got away close,” said Miller. “It worked out to where I could get her back to the lead, she got covered up and got out at the head of the stretch and just fired.”

“I think she’ll hold this form for the summer,” the reinsman added. “It would be great if she could get a hair sharper, but we will take her like she is right now.”

Owner Marvin Katz was elated with the 3year-old filly’s performance.

“This is a Breeders Crown champion for last year and she is a top end filly,” he said. “It’s difficult to acquire horses like this, but if I can put it in context for people who may think about wanting to buying horses, for all things exciting, winning the Stanley Cup, winning the NBA Championships, this is just like that. It’s just the same experience. It gives you the opportunity to participate at the highest level of sport and be engaged with wonderful people and when good thing happen, like I said last year, it really feels like you are on top of the mountains.”

The daughter of Well Said-Up Front Dragonfly has a lifetime record of 4-5-0 in 15 starts. With the win, the bay lifts her earnings to C$609,375 for owners Al Libfeld of Pickering and Toronto’s Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.

Earlier on the program, Takter also won the Goodtimes Final with Trixton.

Uffizi Hanover returned $5.30, 3.60 and $2.70, combining with Nat A Virgin ($3.90, $3.70) for a $16.40 (2-1) exactor. A 2-1-4 (Take That Hanover, $11.90) triactor was worth $278.70, while a $1 Superfecta [2-1-4-10 Beach Gal] paid $876.90.