Bulldog Hanover gets his crown

Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play) put the cherry on top of his final harness racing season as he won the $810,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace in his last start on home soil at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Oct. 29).

Driver Dexter Dunn, looking for his fourth Breeders Crown title of the night, floated the stallion out for post six and followed Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy) two-wide into the first turn. Tattoo Artist (James MacDonald) cut the quarter of :26 but was pocketed by Allywag Hanover, and Bulldog Hanover then completed his climb to the top at the half in :53.1.

He then headed to three-quarters in 1:20.3 and flew home with his typical late-stretch burst, leaving Allywag Hanover five lengths behind and crossing the line victorious in 1:46.4.

Tattoo Artist got up for second over Allywag Hanover.

With the win, Bulldog Hanover bested the previous stakes record of 1:47 set by Won The West in 2009. He also equaled his Canadian record for a pacing stallion, which he laid down on Sep. 3 in the Canadian Pacing Derby. He shares the overall record with Dr J Hanover.

BULLDOG HANOVER REPLAY

Bulldog Hanover, who became the sport’s fastest ever horse earlier this year, is now 13-for-15 on the season. The stallion, owned by Jack Darling Stables of Cambridge and Brad Grant of Milton, has won 27 of his 36 lifetime appearances and raked in $2,621,946 in purse money. Jack Darling trains the four-year-old.

To read all the coverage of the 2022 Breeders Crown, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink