Big Box Hanover has been a force among local trotters for the last few years at Saratoga Casino Hotel. On Monday, the eight year old was tasked with overcoming post position six in the Open Trot at the Spa. Matt Athearn drove the Larry Stalbaum trainee who got away sixth in the early going and was almost nine lengths off the lead in the first quarter of the $16,000 featured race. The race’s leader set fast fractions of 27 and 56.4 in the first half as Big Box Hanover grabbed the cover of Remember Titans (Aaron Byron) who struck the lead past three quarters in 1:25.3. Big Box Hanover tipped off the cover turning for home before coming on to best the featured field in 1:56. It was the second consecutive day in which a Stalbaum trainee won a local Open as his Mr Mclaren N prevailed in Sunday’s Open Pace. Big Box Hanover paid $7.80 to win in a victory that resulted in his career earnings move just dollars shy of the $800,000 mark. Remember Titans was the runner-up while the favorite Passarino (Jacob Cutting) earned the show spot. Stalbaum owns Big Box Hanover whose win was his third of the season and the 55th in his career.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo
