MILTON, May 5, 2018 – Easy Lover Hanover extended his win streak to nine and sent a statement to the sport’s top older pacers. The Ben Wallace trained five-year-old came from off the pace to capture Saturday’s $34,000 Preferred Pace in a career-best 1:48.1. Driven by Doug McNair, Easy Lover Hanover got away fourth in a field of five. Veteran Nirvana Seelster was sent to the front by driver Trevor Henry and posted hot fractions of :26.2, :54 and 1:21.2. There was no movement from the field until McNair moved ‘Easy Lover’ to the outside approaching three-quarters. In the lane, Easy Lover Hanover unleashed a furious rally and charged by his rivals in impressive fashion with a :26 kicker to grab his third win of the season and ninth-consecutive overall. Ellis Park, who followed ‘Easy Lover’ right from the start, also paced a huge final-quarter (:25.3) and stayed on the tail of the winner to finish second, beat three-parts of a length. Nirvana Seelster had to settle for third, while Fine Diamond and Fool Me Once rounded out the field. Owned by Brad Grant, Easy Lover had quickly earned $51,000 in three starts this season, while bringing his career-earnings to north of $630,000. His career-best victory Saturday was the 28th career score for the five-year-old gelding. Easy Lover Hanover’s clocking of 1:48.1 established a North American season’s best and is the first sub-1:49 mile of the year. His previous career-mark was 1:49. The Wallace trainee battled the sport’s top older pacers on a few occasions last season and more than held his own. He finished his four-year-old season with six straight wins in Woodbine’s top class and his three wins this season now give him an unheard of nine-consecutive Preferred scores. Easy Lover Hanover is staked to many notable events this season, including the Canadian Pacing Derby. He paid $2.90 to win. Share This:Share
