Buttermilk Hanover ($6.60) took the short way home to victory to kick off her nine-year-old season, making every call a winning one in Wednesday's (Jan. 5) $10,000 Preferred 3 for distaff pacers at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Marc St. Louis Jr. put the daughter of Badlands Hanover in play immediately from the pole, and the pair used their inside advantage to seat Millies Million — who left more strongly, but had the disadvantage of a wider barrier draw from post 5 — in the pocket. After speeding through a :28.1 first quarter to establish control, Buttermilk Hanover enjoyed a :30.4 second-quarter breather — only to have to pick up the pace again in the second circuit as Manhattan Night began a first-over ascent out of midfield.
Manhattan Night encroached steadily up the backstretch and offered mild pressure to Buttermilk Hanover past three-quarters in 1:27.1, but faded off the home corner — thus enabling Millies Million to take a second shot out of the pocket. Buttermilk Hanover held her ground, though, driven out to win by a length in 1:56.4. Millies Million (Travis Cullen) was a strong second; Mywishlistforyou (Garrett Rooney) finished a ground-saving third.
Melissa Lamoureux trains 35-time winner Buttermilk Hanover for 8113564 Canada Ltd. and Jeffrey Boyd.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – The Raceway at the Western Fair District.