Open Pace at the Spa to Addison Hanover

Addison Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere) came to Saratoga Casino Hotel this summer to compete out of the stable of the meet’s leading harness racing trainer Brett Derue. Addison Hanover has been a winning machine since coming to the Spa and climbed the class ranks all the way up into the Open in recent weeks.

A beaten favorite when a third-place finisher in last Saturday’s (Nov 4) installment of the Open Pace, the Derue-trained five-year-old was once again heavily backed by the betting public in this week’s $15,000 feature.

Driver Billy Dobson wasted little time moving the favorite to the lead quarter-moving Addison Hanover to take over from Talking Tom (Chris Long) in a 26.4 first quarter. The favorite stood tall in a first half clocked in 56.1 before checking in at three quarters in 1:24.2.

Feeling just mild pressure throughout, Addison Hanover powered away to win by better than two lengths while stopping the timer in 1:52.2, a new lifetime mark. Talking Tom sat the pocket to finish second for the second consecutive week while Century Endeavor (Brett Beckwith) earned the show spot.

ADDISON HANOVER REPLAY

Addison Hanover paid $4.40 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $9.40 and $23.60, respectively. The winner is owned by Picarazzi, Derue and Bullard who scored two victories on the card as their Squadron Seelster pulled off a mild upset earlier in the evening in a conditional race for pacers. Dobson piloted both Derue trainees to their Saturday scores.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee set to kick off at noon.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway