LEGENDARY HANOVER DOMINATES IN CANE; ROCKET DEO HOLDS SWAY IN SHADY DASIY

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- August 3, 2024 -- Legendary Hanover kicked off a huge day of stakes action on Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Meadowlands with a track- and stakes-record 1:46.2 performance in the $248,000 Cane Pace, for sophomores. James MacDonald guided the son of Huntsville from the Well Said mare Lillian Hanover to his second straight stakes winning performance, following a blowout 2-1/2-length victory in the Meadowlands Pace.

With just five horses in the field, MacDonald settled Legendary Hanover in third in the early stages as Captain Luke and Scott Zeron took control in the first turn ahead of Captains Quarters with Jody Jamieson. Following the :26.2 first quarter fraction, Jamieson sent Captains Quarters to regain command. MacDonald didn’t waste time with the Anthony Beaton-trained Legendary Hanover and quickly moved to challenge for the lead. Captains Quarters didn’t yield easily, but Legendary Hanover cleared before reaching the half in :52.4.

Despite little in the way of challenges, MacDonald didn’t ease up on Legendary Hanover, who paced a :26.3 third quarter to hit that marker in 1:19.2 with only Captains Quarters close enough to threaten in the homestretch. Those threats was short-lived as MacDonald called on Legendary Hanover, intent on posting a quick clocking. The colt responded in kind with a blistering :27 final fraction, coming just a fifth short of Confederate’s world record mark for 3-year-olds of 1:46.1, taken last year at Lexington’s Red Mile.

Mirage Hanover rallied strongly for Tim Tetrick to gain second late over Captains Quarters as Captain Luke and Remember Alamo rounded out the order of finish.

Sent off as the 1-5 favorite, Legendary Hanover, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, returned $2.40 to win.

Owned by Eric Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain, Legendary Hanover was a winner for the fifth time in eight starts this year, capturing a leg of pacing’s Triple Crown in the process.

“He’s a special horse,” said MacDonald in the winner’s circle. “He has a never-ending set of lungs.”

Rocket Deo and Andy McCarthy needed a long journey to gain control but dug in bravely in the stretch to capture the $101,000 Shady Daisy, for sophomore pacing fillies, in a career-best 1:49 mile.

The action was fast and furious from the outset in the Shady Daisy, with Stonecoldtreachery and Bob McClure hustling quickly past Miraculous Deo to take control at the :26.3 opening quarter. McClure saw immediate pressure when Canigetalouploup and driver David Miller pounced on her off the opening bend to take control. McCarthy had followed the outer flow with the Brett Pelling-trained Rocket Deo, and the daughter of Captaintreacherous assumed command before completing the first half in :53.4.

McCarthy was looking for company on the final turn, and when favored Caviart Belle and driver Yannick Gingras went to the outside, she flushed the cover of Stonecoldtreachery. Rocket Deo hit three-quarters in 1:21.4 and tried to sprint free, leaving the door ajar for the pocket-sitting Canigetalouploup, whom Miller angled out to challenge. A stretch battle ensued, but Rocket Deo kept digging in and gamely held off the closers, surviving with a :27.1 final quarter with Canigetalouploup a head back in second and Lou Lou and driver Scott Zeron rallying strongly late for third. The Pelling-trained Sweet Gal came through for fourth with Miraculous Deo fifth.

Rocket Deo is owned by Morrison Racing Stables and John D. Fielding. She was a winner for the sixth time in eight tries this year. Rocket Deo paid $10.80 to win. Out of the stakes winning mare Rocklamation, Rocket Deo was bred by Deo Volente Farms and T L P Stable.

“I had pretty good faith in her,” said McCarthy. “I thought I was beat in mid-stretch. She’s a gritty girl.”