Having won back-to-back series finals at the Meadowlands, Meirs Hanover will be looking to add the Cam Fella Stakes title to his resume next, and he is in good position to do so after winning the lone $25,000 elimination on Saturday night at Woodbine
Racetrack. The Cam Fella Stakes is for four and five-year-olds that are non-winners of $100,000 as of Oct. 31, 2010.
Following a recall at the start of the race, Jackets Required (Randy Waples) shot to the lead from Post 8 and reached the first quarter in :27-seconds. As he showed the way into the backstretch, Meirs Hanover made his move. Driver Jody Jamieson sent the 4-5 favourite to command from third before the :55.4 half-mile mark and proceeded to three-quarters in 1:23.4. The Artsplace-Mary Mattgalane four-year-old was untouchable as he cruised home to a two length victory in 1:51.3. Jackets Required was the runner-up and Aled Hanover (Scott Zeron) was third.
Shipping into the David Menary barn from the Meadowlands after winning the Clyde Hirt and Exit16W Series finals for Ron Burke, Meirs Hanover pushed his 2011 bankroll to $104,400 with tonight's victory. He has recorded five wins and two seconds in seven seasonal starts. The career winner of $198,439 is owned by David Van Dusen of Madison, Michael Cimaglio of Lyndhurst and the Strollin Stable of Marion, Ohio.
Meirs Hanover paid $3.80 to win.
Driven by Paul MacDonell, Gotcha Covered front-stepped his way to victory lane in the following race, the $28,000 Preferred 2 Pace.
The five-year-old Western Ideal-Day Dreams gelding took control from Post 3 and reached the opening quarter in :27.1 before the parked out Faucon Stena (Simon Allard) rolled up to take over. Gotcha Covered let his challenger clear before moving back out for the re-take. He hit the half in :55, followed by three-quarters in 1:22 before tripping the timer 1:51.3. Even money favourite Our Lucky Killean (Mark MacDonald) came on for second, finishing three-quarters of a length behind, and OK Boromir (Doug McNair) was third.
Gotcha Covered paid $17.20 for his second win in seven seasonal starts. The Randy Van Meer trainee lifted his bankroll to $38,640 for 2011 and 172,845 lifetime for owners Harry Locke of Oshawa and Daniel Sarafian of Stouffville, Ont.
The win was one of two on the 12-race card for MacDonell, Van Meer and Locke while trainer Richard Moreau and driver Sylvain Filion teamed up to win three races.
Here is a look at the field for next Saturday's $100,000 Cam Fella Stakes in post position order:
1. Fits Z Tam
2. Sniper Seelster
3. Aled Hanover
4. Golden Time
5. Meirs Hanover
6. Web Cam
7. Sparky Mark
8. Ideal Gift
9. Shiftin Geartogear
10. Jackets Required
For results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine.