Holborn Hanover wins $1 million Meadowlands Pace

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports WriterJuly 17, 2004

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Holborn Hanover scored the biggest upset in the history of the Meadowlands Pace, charging up the inside of the pylons to win the $1 million race at odds of 58-1 Saturday night.

The longest shot in the field of 10 colts and geldings, Holborn Hanover paced the mile 1:49 to beat favored Timesareachanging by three-quarters of a length.

What made the victory even more improbable was that the Mark Harder-trained gelding qualified for the final by posting the fastest fourth-place time in last weekend's three eliminations. The top three in each heat also earned a spot in the final.

``I just won the Meadowlands Pace, unbelievable,'' said part owner Albert Imbrogno of Milton, Ontario.

Holborn Hanover paid $119, $31 and $11.80 in scoring only his second win in 10 starts this year. Timesareachanging returned $4 and $2.80 and Metropolitan finished third and paid $5.60 for show.

``You just try to save as much ground as you can and hope you have a little luck,'' driver Jim Morrill Jr. said after posting the biggest win of his career.
The race had a lot of action up front and that seemed to benefit Holborn Hanover, a son of Cam's Card Shark.

North America Cup winner Mantacular and Metropolitan went quickly from the outside posts to vie for the lead at the start.

Hall of Famer John Campbell put Metropolitan on the lead entering the first turn, but George Brennan moved Camelot Hall, another Harder-trained 3-year-old, to the lead early on the backstretch.

Geartogear, who won one of the three eliminations last weekend, challenged Camelot Hall near the end of the backstretch.

Camelot Hall fought off that challenge and had the lead entering the stretch with Metropolitan second, Georgia Pacific third, and Holborn Hanover fourth on the inside.
As Camelot Hall tired early in the stretch, the inside opened up and Morrill shot Holborn Hanover to the lead.

Timesareachanging, with 24-year-old Yannick Gingras in the bike, made a bold late move on the outside, but the gelding could not catch Holborn Hanover.

``Second is not bad,'' Gingras said. ``Tonight, I am not that happy with it, but tomorrow I will be.''

Camelot Hall finished fourth and was followed by Georgia Pacific.

The final five spots were changed, because Mantacular interfered with Geartogear and Circle L Kid in the stretch. Brandon's Cowboy was placed sixth and followed by The Preacher Pan, Circle L Kid, Geartogear and Mantacular, who was disqualified from sixth to 10th.