Great Emancipator fastest in Hanover 3CT splits

A busy week of Hanover Stakes action came to a conclusion on Sunday at Balmoral Park as a total of 22 diagonally gaited sophomore colts squared off in a pair of $28,250 Hanover Stake splits.

 

In the first division, the Doug Ackerman Stables' Great Emancipator made it look easy as he made every call a winning one while recording a 2 1/4-length triumph in a career best of 1:55.2.

 

Confidently handled by driver Brad Kramer, the homebred son of Striking Sahbra-Minnesota Carol shot right to the top from post position two. Trotting through splits of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.3, the D.R. Ackerman trainee was in complete command as he strolled under the wire with his sixth win in nine starts this season. Defend The Rock (Dave Magee) followed the winner's every move but was forced to settle for the runner-up role on this night while Big Bucks (Casey Leonard) finished third. 

 

The second division provided a major upset as Lake To Sky Farms and Mark Fransen’s Big Sky Revenue came flying down the stretch to win by a half length at odds of 18-1 in a lifetime best of 1:56 for driver Dale Hiteman.

 

Despite being second to last as the field trotted by the half-mile mark the good looking son of Revenue S-Montana Maple unleashed a :28.1 final quarter to reel in a leg weary Thro Time (Kramer), who had a five-length advantage at the midstretch call. The victory was the fourth in nine starts this year for the Mark Fransen trainee who has been based at Balmoral Park throughout his sophomore campaign. Thro Time managed to hold on for second while Powerful Speed (Todd Warren) uncorked a big late rally to grab the show dough. (Balmoral Park)