MIRAGE HANOVER POUNCES, PREVAILS IN BREEDERS CROWN COLT PACE

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Driver Dexter Dunn worked a snug pocket ride for 5-2 second choice Mirage Hanover and powered for the money to equal the 1:48 stakes record in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace on Saturday night (Oct. 26) at The Meadowlands.

Leaving from the pylon post, Dunn pushed Mirage Hanover to secure a seat behind 3-5 favorite Captain Albano, who bore a furious challenge from Timeisonmyside through a :26.4 first quarter. Timeisonmyside remained a pestering thorn to Captain Albano, who nonetheless coasted to a :54.1 half.

Captain Albano continued to cruise as Timeisonmyside retreated through the turn and congested the outer tier on the move to three-quarters in 1:21.2. Mirage Hanover all the while followed with intent and amply responded once Dunn launched him for home. Mirage Hanover drew alongside Captain Albano and zipped away in the final eighth to post a 2-1/2-length win with Nijinsky emerging off a ground-saving trip for second. Captain Albano faded to third with Calicojack Hanover finishing fourth and McCrunch taking fifth.

“He absolutely loves it; just loves to do it,” said trainer Jake Leamon, who won his first Breeders Crown trophy in just his second finals appearance. “He’s laid back, easy to jog – two fingers – never gets excited and just goes when you ask him. [Captain Albano] is a really tough horse. It was going to come right down to it.”

Marvin Rounick owns Mirage Hanover, a Hanover Shoe Farms-bred colt by Bettor’s Delight out of the Mach Three mare Mayhem Seelster. The colt collected his sixth win from 17 starts this season and his 10^th victory from 26 starts in his career, good for $882,593 in earnings. His 1:48 win matched the record set in 2016 by Racing Hill at The Meadowlands. Dexter Dunn collected his first trophy in the 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace.

Mirage Hanover paid $7.40 to win.

BREEDERS BETTING A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT: All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $4,356,475, capping a record Breeders Crown weekend. Since the four races on Friday and eight on Saturday format went into existence, The Meadowlands total of $7,372,478 in 2021 stood as the standard.

Until last night.

When you add Friday’s total wager of $3,369,424 to Saturday’s action, you get the new mark of $7,725,899, an average per race of $275,924 for the weekend’s 28 total dashes.

“We want to thank our horsemen and employees for putting on such a great show at the 2024 Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “And, of course, we want to send our appreciation out to all of the owners who had horses on the card as well as our faithful fans, who always show up in a big way on the big nights and create the big betting numbers.”

A LITTLE MORE: Not surprisingly, Dexter Dunn’s four wins on his historic night at the races led the driver colony. … Ron Burke led the trainers with three walks down victory lane. … Pick-4 betting was potent as both the early ($122,044) and late ($107,866) editions of the 50-cent base bet each sported pools in excess of $100,000. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

PHOTOS (Credit: Lisa Photo):

Mirage Hanover with Dexter Dunn winning the $600,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace.