Pickup Man Hanover Triumphs in Open Race at Saratoga

In a thrilling turn of events, Pickup Man Hanover secured his first win of the season at Saratoga Casino Hotel, overcoming tough competition in the $20,270 Open Handicap Pace.

After finishing as a runner-up in consecutive races earlier this month, Pickup Man Hanover finally emerged victorious on Saturday, February 17.

Having been a standout nominee for Pacer of the Year during the previous season at Saratoga Casino Hotel, Pickup Man Hanover's transition from a New York Sire Stakes star to an Open Pacer in 2023 proved to be a successful move. Trained by Jaymes McAssey, this talented horse clinched two Opens in '23 and continued his impressive form into 2024, securing a second-place finish in the season's first feature on February 3. Following a close second in a conditional race the previous weekend, Pickup Man Hanover made a triumphant return to the Open on Saturday night, starting from post three in the eight-horse feature.

Under the expert guidance of driver Shawn Gray, Pickup Man Hanover took an aggressive approach from the front-end. Despite challenging first-half fractions of :26.4 and :56.2, Pickup Man Hanover showcased his resilience, holding his ground against a formidable first-over contender. Meanwhile, underdog Sounds Good, ridden by Jimmy Devaux, made a strong surge along the pylon path while Torrid Saint A, with Matt Athearn on board, attempted to make a move towards the leader in the final stretch but fell short. Pickup Man Hanover crossed the finish line in 1:54, securing his first win of the season and his third in the Open category throughout his career. Sounds Good claimed second place, with Torrid Saint A finishing in third.

Punters who backed Pickup Man Hanover were rewarded handsomely, with a $12 return for the win and lucrative payouts of $97.50 for the exacta and $1,026 for the triple bet.

This five-year-old gelding, sired by Huntsville and Pilgrims Witchie, boasts an impressive record of 14 victories from 54 lifetime starts, accumulating earnings of $233,091. Owned by Dennis and Simone Noud of Saratoga Springs, New York, Pickup Man Hanover continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the harness racing circuit.

The excitement of live harness racing will continue on Sunday afternoon with a matinee event commencing at noon.