Santana Hanover tightens up

Battle Of Waterloo runner-up Santana Hanover (Big Jim) dropped to the conditioned level and snagged his second career harness racing win in a new mark of 1:53.3 on Tuesday (Sep. 27) at a rain-soaked Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The gelding got away third and inherited a pocket with a sizable gap as Albert Alpha (Doug McNair) broke stride from the two-hole just after the quarter in :28.1. Santana Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) rapidly closed the distance, and driver Louis-Philippe Roy pulled the plugs to get him past leader Picksixking (Travis Cullen) at the half in :57.4.

He brought the field to three-quarters in 1:25.4 and thundered down the lane under urging to take the victory in 1:53.3.

Picksixking chased the winner home for second. Telllaurailoveher (Tyler Jones) got up for show.

SANTANA HANOVER REPLAY

Santana Hanover began his career with a victory and a narrow place finish in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots. He then took his shot at the Battle Of Waterloo, where he was parked the mile at 45-1 and fought on for second. The Scott McEneny trainee has since taken cheques in two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions and the Champlain Stakes. He is two-for-eight overall with $115,844 in earnings. Domenic Chiaravelle of Hamilton owns the gelding.

Also on the card, trainer Michael Guitard made his final career start with Tommy Boy Hanover in the seventh race. His son, Clint, announced on Twitter that “after literally 50 years training horses my dad makes his last start tonight.” The two-year-old colt finished seventh. Guitard made 2,522 training starts, won 334 races, and racked up earnings of $5,448,521. He was a mainstay of the Ontario racing circuit and is most known for his time at Mohawk, Woodbine, and Greenwood.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will continue racing on Thursday, Sep. 29 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink