Favourites shine in Fan Hanover eliminations

There were two $35,000 elimination races held Saturday at Mohawk Park for the Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies.

In the 9^th race first division the wagering public bet down Hot Mess Express (Andy McCarthy) to 1/5 and they were not disappointed. After taking the lead away from Game Of Shadows (Louis-Philippe Roy) after the opening quarter mile of :27.2, it was pretty much game over for the rest of the field.

Leading to the half mile in :56 and the three-quarters in 1:23.2, Hot Mess Express then faced a first-over challenge from Scarlett Hanover (David Miller), which seemed to only edge Hot Mess Express on as she drew off to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:50.3. Scarlett Hanover was second with Mackie Hanover (Tim Tetrick) third. Game Of Shadows was forth with Best Head West fifth.

Sired by Panther Hanover, Hot Mess Express notched her eighth win in nine starts for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Sam Bowie of West Palm Beach, FL. She paid $2.40 to win.

HOT MESS EXPRESS REPLAY

“She was good enough tonight for sure,” said driver Andy McCarthy. “I know there is a little bit more of improvement there. She is just a great horse. I’m sure if she had to go 1:49 tonight, she would have gone 1:49. I feel there will be another step up for next week.”

In the 11^th race second Fan Hanover elimination division, Voelz Delight (Sylvain Filion) was first on the lead with Twin B Sunkissed (Yannick Gingras) grabbed second place but not for long, moving up and into the lead after a :27.2 first quarter.

She cut the mile to the half in a mild :56 and right in the backstretch, Notorious Pink (Todd McCarthy) came first-over and that was the clue for race favorite Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn) to grab the second-over cover as they raced to the three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Then as the field fanned out for the stretch drive, Fire Start Hanover proved to be too much for the field coming off cover and pulled away late in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:51.1. Voelz Delight was second with Notorious Pink third. Off The Record was fourth with Spellcheck Hanover fifth.

For Fire Start Hanover it was the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere’s third win on the season for trainer Nifty Norman. She is owned by the Pinske Stables, David Hoese and Lawrence Means and paid $2.80 to win.

FIRE START HANOVER REPLAY

“She is a classy filly,” said driver Dexter Dunn. “She had not been quite herself as of late but she was great tonight. There is a good bunch of fillies here (Fan Hanover), so she is near the top of them. Tonight, the way she felt was terrific.”

The first five finishers in official order from each of the elimination races return next Saturday for the $425,000 Fan Hanover final. They are;

Hot Mess Express by Panther Hanover

Scarlett Hanover by Bettors Delight

Mackie Hanover by Captaintreacherous

Game Of Shadows by Shadow Play

Best Head West by Bettors Delight

Fire Start Hanover by Somebeachsomewhere

Voelz Delight by Bettors Delight

Notorious Pink by Captaintreacherous

Off The Record by Always B Miki

Spellcheck Hanover by Captaintreacherous

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink