The 'Beast' Vs. The 'Bulldog'

Allywag Hanover
Published: October 28, 2022 01:59 pm EDT

Allywag Hanover added to his list of record-setting accomplishments when he became only the fourth pacer in history to win a race in 1:46 or faster as he upset Bulldog Hanover earlier this month in the Allerage Farms Open at Lexington’s Red Mile.

And trainer Brett Pelling was not surprised.

“He’s a beast,” Pelling said. “People don’t give him the kudos that he deserves. When you’re around him, trust me, he gives you chills.”

Allywag Hanover will try to make it two in a row over Bulldog Hanover when they meet in Saturday’s (Oct. 29) US$600,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Allywag Hanover will start from post three with driver Todd McCarthy and is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. Bulldog Hanover, who will leave from post six with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Jack Darling, is the 4-5 favourite.

Five-year-old Allywag Hanover has set multiple world records during his career. His 1:46 score in the Allerage is the fastest mile ever by a gelding, just a tick off Bulldog Hanover’s all-time mark of 1:45.4, and he joined Bulldog Hanover as the only horses to win multiple races with a sub-1:47 mile. Allywag Hanover won in 1:46.4 last year at the Red Mile.

In addition, Allywag Hanover’s time of 1:47.2 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 2021 is tied for the fastest ever by a gelding on a five-eighths-mile track and his clocking of 1:47.3 this year at Harrah’s Philadelphia equaled the world record for a gelding older than age four on a five-eighths oval.

“I’m pretty good with a watch, I’ve been doing this for a long, long time, and he gets me every time,” said Pelling, a 12-time Breeders Crown winner. “You have no idea how fast he is traveling, and he’s got a very unique way of going, and it’s just plain fast. And it’s a different kind of speed. It’s raw.

“There is a level of pain to train him. He hurts you. It’s not an armchair situation at all.”

Allywag Hanover, who was a divisional Dan Patch Award winner in 2021, has won 23 of 52 career races and earned $1.63 million. The son of Captaintreacherous-Anderosa Hanover is owned by Allywag Stable.

This year, Allywag Hanover has hit the board in all 11 of his starts, winning five and finishing second on four occasions. All four of his runner-up performances came against Bulldog Hanover.

Allywag Hanover and Bulldog Hanover have not raced since the Allerage because eliminations were not required in the Open Pace. Bulldog Hanover prepped for the Breeders Crown with a 1:51.2 qualifier at Mohawk last week.

“He looked awesome,” said trainer Darling, who co-owns Bulldog Hanover with Brad Grant. “I’ve never seen him look any better. Dexter couldn’t get him pulled up after the wire. He went a full lap after (the qualifier) and he still had trouble on the backside. So, he’s as good as he could be going into the final.

“I was actually hoping there would be (elims), and I would have raced him in the open too, but nothing filled. He just likes to mix it up a little and have some fun. He loves to race. I’m glad I brought him (to qualify). It was a good tightener for him. He’s in good shape.”

Bulldog Hanover has won 16 of 18 starts since a three-race skid in the fall of 2021, which has been the only time in his career he lost consecutive races. Lifetime, the son of Shadow Play-BJ’s Squall has won 26 of 35 starts and earned $2.2 million.

Tattoo Artist, who is the 8-1 third choice in the Open Pace, will start from post seven in the 11-horse field with James MacDonald driving for trainer Ian Moore. No other horse is at odds lower than 12-1.

A son of Hes Watching-Stylish Artist, Tattoo Artist has won three in a row in the Open at Mohawk since a second-place finish behind Bulldog Hanover in the Canadian Pacing Derby. He has won 30 of 68 career races, earned $1.88 million, and was a divisional O’Brien Award winner at age three.

“He’s just one of the sweetest little horses I’ve ever had,” Moore said about the five-year-old stallion owned by Let It Ride Stables, Frank Cannon, and Diamond Creek Racing. “I just love him. He’s almost the perfect horse. You could take half-an-hour to jog one lap if you want, or you could go a :25 quarter anytime you want.

“He’ll give you all he’s got, that’s for sure. He’s a tough little bugger.”

All four Breeders Crown finals for two-year-olds will be contested Friday at Mohawk. Racing begins at 7 p.m. (EDT) with the Crown fields going behind the gate in races six through nine. The finals for horses three and up are Saturday, also starting at 7 p.m.

To view the complete entries for this weekend's Breeders Crown finals, click one of the following links:

(USTA)

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