Campbellville, ON --- Twenty-two of the sport’s top 2-year-old pacing colts will be showcased this Saturday night at Mohawk when they contest three divisions of the Nassagaweya Stakes.
The Nassagaweya is a springboard to the $1 million Metro Pace, which is slated for Saturday (September 1) at the Campbellville oval.
Tarpon Hanover is the richest rookie pacer in North America this season with earnings of $240,350 and remains a top threat among his rivals.
Fresh off his Battle of Waterloo victory by seven lengths in 1:53 at Grand River Raceway, Tarpon Hanover will face his toughest task to date when he competes against Grand Circuit colts in his C$108,125 division of the Nassagaweya Stakes.
It’s an assignment his driver, Scott Zeron, has no issue with.
“He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do so far and he’s done it easy,” said the 23-year-old reinsman. “I’m not really worried about facing the American horses because I’m confident that he’s one of the best and I know he can go with them. Just because he’s only beaten Canadian horses doesn’t mean he can’t beat them.”
Tarpon Hanover has gotten off to a quick start in his career as he’s dominated the provincial program, crafting a record of 3-1-0 from four starts with a lifetime-best of 1:51.4.
Zeron believes that the son of Badlands Hanover-Tarport Herald is the “complete package.”
“I think he’s one of the best 2-year-olds I’ve ever sat behind,” Zeron said. “From a driver’s perspective, he’s about the nicest horse you could ever drive. You can leave with him or race him from off the pace. You can start him up and shut him down about four or five times in a race if you want to. You could drive him bad and he’ll still win for you. He’s all class.”
Zeron was also quick to mention Tarpon Hanover’s best on-track attribute.
“His quick speed,” he said. “He can just make speed like no other. I’ve been power-driving him a bit in the OSS, but he’s so much better off a helmet. We’ll look for a tidy trip in the Nassageweya.”
Tarpon Hanover, who was an $82,000 purchase at the 2011 Harrisburg Yearling Sale, is trained and co-owned by David Menary along with Brad Gray, Denis Breton and Bruce Norris.
Zeron and Tarpon Hanover will leave post two in race three.
Here’s how the fields will line up behind the gate for the Nassagaweya Stakes:
Race 2
1. Odds On Equuleus
2. Tempo Seelster
3. Urbanite Hanover
4. Sepia Sands
5. Varadero Hanover
6. Slight Tough
7. Dress The Part
Race 3
1. Cool Like That
2. Tarpon Hanover
3. Evenin Of Pleasure
4. Captaintreacherous
5. Vegas Vacation
6. Captive Audience
7. Orator
Race 9
1. Mach Me Bad
2. Traumatized
3. Fool Me Once
4. Teresa's Beach
5. Resistance Futile
6. Lets Rock Together
7. Apprentice Hanover
8. Sunshine Beach
Also on the program, two C$129,748 divisions of the Eternal Camnation Stakes, featuring North America’s top 2-year-old pacing fillies, will go postward. The freshman fillies are prepping for the C$630,000 She's A Great Lady final, which