Trueland Hanover in upset

Longshot Trueland Hanover, buried on the inside eight horses back from the lead, swooped to the outside at the head of the stretch, roared down the lane, caught the 1-5 favorite JK CU Later before the wire and captured the $70,000 Exit 16 W Series final at the Meadowlands Saturday night in 1:50.2. Carr’s Character also rallied late to be third in the mile that equaled the stakes record.

Leaving from post three with Andy Miller in the bike, 50-1 Trueland Hanover was settled third along the pylons while Brian Sears sent Ideal Michael into the lead from post six. Cat Manzi also tried for the lead with Pembroke Touch but was unsuccessful. When they began backing up through the field it jammed up Western Shore, JK CU Later and Lather Machine, the latter two having to tip three wide to get into a challenging position.

Ideal Michael cut fractions of :26.3, :54.2 and 1:22.2 before JK CU Later took over the lead at the head of the stretch. Lather Machine and Tim Tetrick followed JK CU Later into the lane, but it was Trueland Hanover who made a right turn to fall in behind Lather Machine in the turn and then sprint to victory.

Owned by George Leon and trained by Mickey Burke (who also trains JK CU Later), Trueland Hanover scored his first win of the year in four starts after seventh- and third-place finishes in the series’ preliminary legs.

The 4-year-old son of The Panderosa paid $103.40 to win.

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