Another track record falls to unstoppable Bulldog Hanover

ANDERSON, Ind.—September 23, 2022— The crowd gathered at Harrah’s Hoosier Park to witness the historic return of the World’s Fastest Standardbred, Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play), become the fastest in Hoosier Park harness racing history. Headlining a field of all-star open pacers, Bulldog Hanover didn’t disappoint, scoring in absolutely dominating fashion in the Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby.

It was Bulldog Hanover’s first performance since his 1:45.4 world-record win in the William Haughton Memorial four weeks ago. With the victory, Bulldog Hanover recorded his seventh straight victory and stamped his name in the Harrah’s Hoosier Park record books.

Leaving from post two in the talented field up ten, driver Dexter Dunn elected to take back into the fifth position waiting for the dust to settle up front as Allywag Hanover and Todd McCarthy led the hot opening quarter of 25:3. Allywag Hanover relinquished to lead to a parked and pressing Desperate Man and Trevor Henry, just before Catch The Fire launched his bid for the lead with a snarling Bulldog Hanover right on his back. Catch The Fire and Andrew McCarthy crossed over to the lead at the half in 53:2 with The Bulldog set to be unleashed first over heading into the final turn.

Bulldog Hanover blitzed to the lead entering the far turn and began to flex his muscle on the field, storming to three-quarters in 1:21.0. In the stretch, the Harrah’s Hoosier Park crowd received what they came to see, as Bulldog Hanover thundered home with a 25:3 final quarter, pacing away from an elite field of competitors by six lengths on the line to score in 1:46.3, obliterating the overall Track Record of 1:47.2. Allywag Hanover navigated traffic to rally up the rail to be second, Workin Ona Mystery and Dave Miller rounded out the trifecta.

“I knew there would be some leavers so with the post I thought we could sit back and let things play out early,” Driver Dexter Dunn said, “We got a good tow in the opening half, then coming around the last turn I gave him a chirp and away he went.”

The 1:46.3 effort surpasses the previous Track Record of 1:47:2, first established by Sweet Lou in 2014, and equaled in the years since by Castle Flight, Lather Up, Little Rocket Man and Cattlewash.

“He just amazes me every time he steps on the racetrack,” Trainer and Co-owner Jack Darling said, “I didn’t really expect him to go this fast tonight, he just seems like the harder he gets used the better he is.”

It was the eleventh victory in twelve seasonal starts and the tenth consecutive win for the son of Shadow Play. Trained and co-owned by Jack Darling along with Bradley Grant, the top-rated horse in the sport surpasses the $1-million mark in 2022, pushing his bankroll to $1,024,331. For his career, Bulldog Hanover has won 25 times in 33 lifetime starts with career earnings of $1,793,425.

Racing returns on Saturday to Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday night with a 14-race card. For more information on the 2022 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

To read about Bella Bellini’s Caesar’s Trotting Classic win later on the card and watch the replay, click here.

To read about the undercard stakes and watch the replays, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

From Harrah’s Hoosier Park