A tough trip took its toll on race favourite Slick Tony in Thursday’s $21,000 Open Handicap for pacers, and that left the door wide-open for someone to pull off a shocker.
That horse was Penzance Hanover, as he lit up the toteboard in come-from-behind fashion to the tune of 19-1.
Owner/trainer/driver Art Stafford, Jr. got away in mid-pack with Penzance Hanover while JJ Flynn fired to the front and threw down an opening quarter clocked in :25.4. The leader then battled with Slick Tony through middle splits of :55.2 and 1:22.4.
Penzance Hanover tracked the battlers from second over, and when Stafford flipped the switch on the way to the three-quarter pole his charge made a three-wide move and then kicked home in :27 to win by a neck over JJ Flynn in 1:50.1. Sicily was third.
It was the fifth win of the season from eight attempts for the seven-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Platinum Hanover, who is now a 20-time winner in his career. He’s banked close to $240,000.