Passmaster Hanover wins Abbatiello New Jersey Classic

Passmaster Hanover ($6.00) shook loose late to win the $500,000 SBOA/Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic for 3-year-old colt pacers, the headliner on a million-dollar night for state-bred horses, Saturday at the Meadowlands. 

Driver Tim Tetrick and Passmaster Hanover assumed command at the quarter and made 3-5 favorite Dial Or Nodial work hard to clear the lead in a torrid :53.4 half. Dial Or Nodial gave way under pressure from Vintage Master in mid-stretch, allowing Passmaster Hanover to squeeze by and take the seventh race feature in a career-best 1:50.2. Vintage Master was a head behind in second.
 
The lightly-raced son of Cam’s Card Shark-Panned Out improved his record to five wins in seven career starts for trainer Blair Burgess and owners Brittany Farms of Versailles, Ky. and Jeff Snyder of New York, N.Y.  A $250,000 yearling purchase, Passmaster Hanover is eligible to the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 18.
 
“The fans bet him down pretty hard (2-1 second choice),” Burgess said. “It seems like he earned some respect from last week (winning his N.J. Classic elim). I thought he had to get brave somewhere in the mile. He still needs that. He’s not ready for three moves yet. He had that chance to get brave on the last turn and responded when he got enough room. You win this race and it’s close to the best (horses) that you’re going to meet. I think he belongs with them.” (Meadowlands)
Dial Or Nodial [$2.10] held third, finishing just a half-length behind Passmaster Hanover. 
 
“It’s not his best game coming first over, and moving him to the front took him off his game,” driver Brian Sears said of Dial Or Nodial.  “I used him too much and he knew it.” 

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