Vertigo Hanover wins battle of NA Cup hopefuls

Vertigo Hanover bested two other Pepsi North America Cup hopefuls at Mohawk Saturday night and gave notice that he is focused squarely on the road to the $1.5 million race scheduled for June 27.

In the $25,000(C) contest for 3-year-old pacers, 3-2 favorite Vertigo Hanover and Steve Condren made the early lead from post number five, but relinquished that position to fellow NA Cup hopeful Carnivore, with Chris Christoforou in the bike, at the three-eighths pole. Carnivore opened up a 1 1/2-length lead by the half in a pedestrian :57.1, with Vertigo Hanover drafting comfortably in second.

As the field entered the stretch, Vertigo Hanover angled out and took command, leaving Carnivore two lengths in his wake to win in 1:52.2. Power off (Rick Zeron) was third, with the field's other NA Cup eligible, Stinger Blue Chip, well beaten in sixth for driver Jason Brewer and trainer Casie Coleman.

Trained by Duane Marfisi, Vertigo Hanover is listed at 38-1 in Standardbred Canada's North America Cup Spring Book. A son of 1999 NA Cup champion The Panderosa, Vertigo Hanover won a division of the Niatross at the Meadowlands last year as well as a Woodrow Wilson elimination. So far at three, he has scored a 1:52.3 win in a conditioned event at the Meadowlands, and was third in his Berry's Creek elimination before being caught at the wire in the May 9 final for a sixth-place finish.

He is owned by the Uncirculated Stable in partnership with JL Benson Stables Inc. (WEG)

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