Following back-to-back runner-up finishes this month, Pickup Man Hanover nosed out his competition in the $20,270 Open Handicap Pace to pick up his first win of the season on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Pickup Man Hanover scored his first career victory and also set a new track record along the way in his $33,600 division of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday evening (June 30).
Covering the mile in 1:56.1, Pickup Man Hanover (Billy Dobson) eclipsed the long standing divisional mark of 1:56.3 established by Roadside Delight in July 2010.
Other Sire Stakes winners included Hurrikane Chuck (Jim Morrill Jr.), who toured the Buffalo Raceway half-mile oval in 1:57, and JD (Mark MacDonald) posted a mild $10.20 upset with a 1:56 gate-to-wire score.
Pickup Man Hanover sat in third until just after the opening panel and breezed past El Pistolero, hitting the half in :59.4 over a fast track. After several breakers scattered the field, Pickup Man Hanover was more than able to hold off a mild bid from El Pistolero (Greg Merton) in the stretch. Jitterbug Flip (Fern Paquet Jr.) finished fifth, but was moved up to third via a pair of