Blue Ocean Hanover upsets

Longshot Blue Ocean Hanover and driver Andy Miller took advantage of torrid fractions up front and came charging late to capture the final of the $23,500 Courtesan late closer at Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in 1:53.1 on Monday. I’m All In was second and Winbak Isabella was third.

The final was a shootout from the word "go." Hard Shoe Hannah and I’m All In set the early tempo, dueling through a quarter mile in :26.4 and a half mile in :55.1. Meanwhile, Miller had Blue Ocean Hanover pacing comfortably in seventh position, almost 10 lengths behind the early leaders. The duo moved into the outer flow towards the end of the backstretch, picking up second-over cover in the process. From there, it was just a matter of finding room in the stretch, which the pair did by tipping out turning for home. The margin was one-half length at the finish line, and Blue Ocean Hanover returned $55.20 to win.

The Courtesan was restricted to filly and mare pacers who were non-winners of eight extended pari-mutuel races or $40,000 lifetime as of Oct. 1.

“The early fractions were real good for us, especially with the favorites, Hard Shoe Hannah and I’m All In, battling up front,” explained Miller afterward. “We pulled at about the three-quarters and then moved. She paced on and finished well.”

For Blue Ocean Hanover, the winner’s share of $12,750 pushed her career earnings to just shy of $49,000, with presumably much more racing to come. The 3-year-old daughter of Western Hanover is owned by the 3 Brothers Stable of New York, N.Y., and is trained by Linda Toscano. Monday’s victory was her fifth in 21 lifetime starts, and her final time established a new lifetime mark, besting her previous mark by one second. (Harrah's Chester)

« Back