Pierce wins in series

Ron Pierce piloted the winners of both $19,000 divisions of the opening round of the Fox Sports Net Series on Thursday night at the Meadowlands, first with Real Hanover and then with South Park Hanover.



He scored with Real Hanover in the fifth race and South Park Hanover in the eighth race.



Using an explosive final eighth of a mile, Real Hanover [$12.60, $6.20, $2.20] rallied for a half-length victory over Secret Weapon while the betting favorite Apache Hotspur faded to third.



Real Hanover, seemingly buried at the back of the pack, started to gain ground as the field straightened out at the top of the stretch. Pierce swung the 4-year-old Western Hanover gelding four-wide as they picked off the competition and fired with a :26.3 last quarter for a lifetime best of 1:51.1. for the mile.



James Snyder owns the Rodney Bolon trainee. It was Real Hanover's first win in 12 starts in 2006, although he has three seconds and three thirds, which includes two narrow loses in Clyde Hirt Series action earlier this year at the Meadowlands.



Pierce was back in the winner's circle with South Park Hanover [$9.80, $5.80, $3.40] thanks to a perfect second-over trip. He coaxed the 4-year-old son of Artsplace to a head victory over Ideally Magic [$4.60, $3.40].



South Park Hanover, trained by Charles Connor Jr., paced the mile in 1:51.3, picking up his second win in three starts this year. Connor shares ownership in the pacer with Ted Gewertz and Milton and Martha Frank.



The three-week Fox Sports Net Series continues next week with a $43,315 final on April 20.

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