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Donato Hanover, Val Taurus take splits

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September 08, 2007

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The $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic (CTC) final, set for next Saturday at Mohawk, will feature two horses riding 15-race win streaks--Donato Hanover (1:52.3) and Val Taurus (1:53.2), and they will start side-by-side--in posts two and three--in the CTC final.

Donato Hanover took the first $40,000 elim on Sept. 8. The Andover Hall colt raced very wide in the first turn before taking command of the race early. He trotted smoothly to the halfway mark in :56.3 and hit the three-quarter station in 1:25.1 before coasting home in 1:52.3, defeating Arch Madness and Mythical Lindy.

After the race trainer Steve Elliott said Donato's wide journey in the first turn was simply a product of the colt's driver, Ron Pierce, exercising caution. "He was just being careful with him," said Elliott, noting the colt was making his first start on a stonedust-type track after starts over the clay ovals (The Red Mile and Du Quoin). "I just put a little borium on him and Ronnie said (the track) might be sticking him a little."

Val Taurus made his first stakes start of the season outside of Quebec an impressive one as he jogged to a victory over the filly Pampered Princess. Val Taurus started from post seven and driver Trevor Ritchie sent him to the lead, but John Campbell did the same with Pampered Princess, who started from post five.

Campbell cleared before the quarter (:27) and Ritchie then brushed to the front with Val Taurus. After a leisurely second quarter in :30, Val Taurus increased the tempo and Ritchie never turned the whip as he rode out the 1:53.2 mile.

Pampered Princess held on for second while Up Front Larry took third.

Val Taurus is trained by Normand Barder Jr. of Quebec, and Ritchie drove the colt by Taurus Dream for the first time.

"He's great gaited, and he sure seems like he can go a long way," said Ritchie of Val Taurus. "I know he wasn't tired tonight."

When asked if he thought Val Taurus could give Donato Hanover a battle, Ritchie offered, "I'm not going to make any predictions...because no one's been able to get close to him yet."

Canadian Trotting Classic--final draw

1--Photo Maxx

2--Val Taurus

3--Donato Hanover

4--Laddie

5--Up Front Larry

6--Quite Easy

7--Pampered Princess

8--Mythical Lindy

9--Rune

10--Arch Madness

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