East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbooks) - Even-money favorite Donato Hanover repulsed a challenge by his main rival to win Saturday's $1.5 million Hambletonian at The Meadowlands. The victory was the 13th straight win by the three-year-old trotter.
Donato Hanover, driven by Ron Pierce, posted a 1 1/4 length win over Adrian Chip and stopped the timer at 1:53 2/5 for the mile. The win gave Pierce his second victory in harness racing's signature event and the first for trainer Steve Elliott.
Adrian Chip, owned by pro hockey player Peter Forsberg, jumped out to the lead at the start followed by Don't Blink Twice, Donato Hanover and the filly Pampered Princess. Shortly after entering the backstretch Donato Hanover took over the lead with Adrian Chip second and Don't Blink Twice in third. Pampered Princess, the 3-1 second choice, was trotting in fourth in the ten horse field.
Entering the far turn the filly assumed the lead over the favorite with Adrian Chip in third. Coming off the final turn Donato Hanover regained the lead with Pampered Princess in second.
Pampered Princess couldn't stay with the favorite down the stretch as Donato Hanover entered the record books. Adrian Chip finished second with 30-1 long- shot Laddie third and Please Poppy fourth. Pampered Princess finished seventh, but was placed sixth when Too Salty was disqualified from fifth and placed seventh for violation of the breaking rule.
Donato Hanover is owned by David Scharf, Golden Touch Stables and Steven Arnold. This year he is perfect in five starts and adds $750,000 to his bankroll. In his career, the trotter has earned more than $1.7 million with 13 wins in 14 starts.
Donato Hanover returned $4.00, $3.00 and $3.00. Adrian Chip paid $5.00 and $4.40, and Laddie paid $8.80 to show.
Danae, driven by Tim Tetrick, swept to victory in the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old filly trotters. The 11-1 long-shot trotted the mile in 1:54 2/5.
