A perfect milieu for Milieu Hanover

Plainville, MA — Clearly liking her new environment, Milieu Hanover (Betting Line) feels right at home after winning her second $25,000 Winners-Over mares harness racing pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (June 6).

Despite winning this same class in a season’s best effort last week, Milieu Hanover (Bruce Ranger) was dismissed at 10-1 from post seven as she streaked for the lead that she reached just past the quarter. Once established on the point, Milieu Hanover paced unaccosted to the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.3. In the last turn, Dandy’s Everlasting (Matty Athearn) and La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray), both of whom were pacing in the breeze since the half, finally drew closer and at the top of the stretch were in striking range.

They were joined by Booraa N (Ron Cushing) along the pylons and Probert (Brett Beckwith) four-wide and all were gaining on the leader. But that leader, Milieu Hanover, was not to be denied and hung on to win by one-half length in 1:51.1, which was a new seasonal mark.

Milieu Hanover ($23.60) is owned by Devita Racing Stable, David Hamm and Christopher Giaccio and is trained by Nick Davita.

MILIEU HANOVER REPLAY

The first of two sub-features for fillies and mares was a $17,500 condition pace that went to Roses N Wine (Western Terror) and driver Shawn Gray who led at every station of the mile and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2.

It was the fifth consecutive win and sixth out of her last seven, all taken at Plainridge Park, for Roses N Wine ($3.20). The mare is owned by John DiAntonio Jr. and is trained by Bob Marston.

ROSES N WINE REPLAY

The second event was a $16,000 conditioned pace won by the Massachusetts-bred Wolverina (Cheyenne Hollywood) and driver Nick Graffam who sat second behind Adashious Hanover (Matty Athearn) to the top of the stretch before pulling and pacing away to a one-quarter length victory over a fast closing Newsy (Ron Cushing) in 1:52, which was a new lifetime mark.

It was the 19th lifetime win in only 31 lifetime starts for the 4-year-old Wolverina ($19.60) who was a Massachusetts Sire Stake star and two-time Maine Sire Stake champion. The mare is owned by her trainer Mike Graffam in conjunction with William Arnold.

WOLVERINA REPLAY

It was the second driving win of the day for Nick Graffam. No other driver had multiple wins and 11 different trainers each won one race apiece on the uber competitive card.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 9) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $7,450 carryover in the Jackpot Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six and a $169 carryover in the Pick-6 in race four.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts