Big Box Hanover is pocket rocket victor

Race favorite Big Box Hanover (Uncle Peter) was able to hold off a late charging Quadratic Bluechip in capturing the $16,000 Open Handicap Trot Sunday afternoon (Nov. 27) at Saratoga Raceway.

The 6^th race feature got underway with Big Box Hanover and driver Larry Stalbaum taking the early lead with Majestic Fire (Luke Hanners) on the move and taking over the lead at the first quarter in :28.4.

Moving past the grandstand the first time, Majestic Fire held the lead with some late movement from the back of the pack by Innisfallen (Jordan Derue) coming first-over with Echo De Meautis Fr (Brett Beckwith) second-over at the half in :58.

The tempo picked up in the backstretch as Majestic Fire cut the mile to the three-quarters in 1:26.2 with Big Box Hanover pulling the pocket-trip for Stalbaum and coming after Majestic Fire around the final turn.

As they started down the stretch, Big Box Hanover collared Majestic Fire and then was able to hold off a late charge in the passing lane by Quadratic Bluechip (Chris Long), who had been sitting in third, to win by a neck in 1:56.1. Majestic Fire was third.

BIG BOX HANOVER

It was the eighth win on the year for Big Box Hanover, a five-year-old gelding, trained by Stalbaum for Red, White & Blue Racing. He paid $3.50 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink