Favorite wins Haughton

Donato Hanover set a track, stakes and season’s record of 1:55 at the Meadowlands Thursday night, winning the $456,000 final of the Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters by better than two lengths over Mythical Lindy. Bamboo Yankee was third.

Unlike his elimination win where he went to the front at the half and cruised home by 3 1/2 lengths, this time he had to play a waiting game before taking command in deep stretch.

“We had a problem in the first turn, he was just a little bit shaky so I was being extra careful,” said winning driver Ron Pierce. “He trotted real nice down the back and then we hit the second turn and it was the same thing, just a little bit shaky so I steadied him. As soon as we straighten up I chirped to him and he took off. I knew I’d catch him (Mythical Lindy), just a question of getting him around the turn. He’s a very special colt, right up with the best onesI’ve driven like Tom Ridge. He just broke the stakes record; I’d say he’s one of the best.”

Mythical Lindy and David Miller took the lead before the :58 half. Gliding Myth came first-over going to the 1:24.1 three quarters, which gave Donato Hanover the perfect cover trip.

At the top of the lane Mythical Lindy began to slip away from the field, but once Pierce tipped Donato Hanover to the outside it was just a matter of time before he caught Mythical Lindy.

The victory was the fourth straight in five starts for the Andover Hall colt, who is a half brother to Hambletonian starter Here Come Herbie. Steve Elliott, who trains Meadowlands Pace winner Artistic Fella, trains this colt for David Scharf, Paul Bordogna’s Golden Touch Stable and Steve Arnold.

The previous stakes record was 1:55.4 by Donerail in 1994. The world record is 1:53.2 by CR Commando at Colonial Downs.

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