Prices galore in 2CTs

Donato Hanover, making his first start since winning the Peter Haughton Memorial in early August, posted a 1:57.4 victory in one of five $82,800 Bluegrass divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters Thursday afternoon at The Red Mile. Sent off at odds of 1-5, Donato Hanover's victory over the "sloppy" track was the only division that did not have a longshot winner.

In winning for the fifth time in six starts, Donato Hanover defeated Gladiator Lindy and Arsenal Hall. The son of Andover Hall is owned by David Scharf, Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold, and trained by Steve Elliott.

"He's been a Cadillac since day one," said Elliott of the career winner of $311,337. "We're fortunate to have him in the barn."

Trainer Trond Smedshammer sprung a pair of surprises in two of the first three $82,800 Bluegrass divisions, while John Campbell came up with a shocker in the other as three Hall of Fame drivers finished one-two-three. The last split also had an upset winner driven by Ron Pierce.

Campbell won the first race on the card with 43-1 longshot Operation Lindy. Campbell was in the sulky for the first time when named by trainer DeWayne Minor, who had driven the son of Enjoy Lavec all four of his previous starts. Operation Lindy broke his maiden with a 1:58.3 effort, defeating Creditable Winner and driver Mike Lachance by less than half a length, with Rushmore Hanover third for Ray Remmen.

Cowboyland Aalborg of Highland Park, Mich., own the winner, who returned $89.20 for a $2 wager.

Smedshammer's first win came with Primary As, who was making his career debug after two qualifying efforts at The Red Mile. Primary As did one-up on Operation Lindy as he went off at odds of 44-1, returning $90.40. Great Success finished second with Xactly Hanover third in the 1:59.4 mile.

A son of Malabar Man, Primary As is owned by Norway's Kittelsen Racing Stable.

Smedshammer then came right back with 11-1 outsider Standpoint, who returned $25.20. Standpoint had made breaks in all three of his previous pari-mutuel starts, but stayed flat this time around to score in 1:59.4. Favorite Jimmy Shin was second with That's Hall Folks third.

Ted Gewertz. Sampson Street Stables, Barry Goldstein and American Viking Racing share ownership of the son of Andover Hall.

The last split went to Sand Amory, who crossed the wire in 2:00.4 to edge Invincible Sun and Monkey Bones. The son of Conway Hall was driven by Pierce to the 11-1 victory, his third in nine starts. He is trained by Tye Loy for owner Bill Sanders.

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