BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, January 11, 2020—It was a change of tactic for Lean Hanover (Jim
Marohn Jr., $15.20) Saturday night (Jan 11th), serving him well in
winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Open Handicap Trot
Usually an
off-the-pace number, Lean Hanover—from assigned post position No. 4—made the
first lead in the first adult-table trot of the season. He then deferred to
second-choice Swansea (Austin Siegelman).
The latter put up
intervals of :27.4, 57.3 and 1:26.3,
with minimal first-up grief from just-over-even-money favorite Will Take Charge
(Jordan Stratton).
Swansea owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but was
unable to stall the pocket sitter. Lean Hanover edged out and by, the margin a
head in 1:55.1. Hill of a Horse (Brent Holland) rallied for third, with
Trotting Grace (Matt Kakaley) and Obrigado (Dan Dube) settling for the minors.
Will Take Charge backpedaled to last among the half-dozen.
For third choice Lean Hanover, a now-7-year-old Donato
Hanover gelding co-owned by Wellwood Enterprises & Karen Carroll, it was a
successful seasonal debut for an 18th career victory. The exacta
paid $34.20, the triple returned $406 and the superfecta paid $723.
