Armycaptin Hanover takes mark in Preferred battle

Armycaptin Hanover (Captaintreacherous) set a new lifetime best time in a battle of the harness racing stars of Fraser Downs as he captured the Open on Friday (Mar. 22).

Armycaptin Hanover dropped back into fourth and maintained that spot through the opening half fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 before Allan Molloy commanded a first-over advance coming off the third turn. Armycaptain Hanover chipped away at Sunshine Boy (Scott Knight), a four-time Preferred winner this season, down the backstretch and through three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Sunshine Boy came into the stretch with a length-and-a-half edge, but Armycaptain Hanover gained relentlessly down the lane and pushed past his rival by a half-length to win in 1:51.3.

Sunshine Boy was a clear second-best. Joe Rich (Brad Watt) finished third.

ARMYCAPTIN HANOVER REPLAY

The 1:51.3 clocking was a new career-best for Armycaptin Hanover, a 41-time winner. Rod Therres acquired the gelding three starts back and has trained him to a Preferred win and a show finish at the same level before Friday’s victory. The eight-year-old has earned $308,801 in 145 lifetime starts.

Also on the card, Diva Amour (Custard The Dragon, Kelly Hoerdt) won her fifth consecutive contest. The mare went to the front in the second quarter and maintained her lead to the finish for a 1:56.3 victory. Hoerdt trains the four-year-old and co-owns her with Fred Gilbert. Diva Amour is now eight-for-37 with a career bankroll of $51,685.

Fraser Downs hosts its next card on Thursday, Mar. 28.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink