MILTON, October 14, 2025— Spencer Hanover (Chapter seven) and Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill) won their $25,000 (USD) Breeders Crown harness racing eliminations for 2-year-old male trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday and will start from post positions two and three respectively in next week’s $700,000 finals.
Spencer Hanover and driver Jason Bartlett captured the first elimination, rising from fourth at three-quarters to win by 1-1/4 lengths from pacesetter Mr Big Spender in 1:53.4. Im Kronos S finished third and Kingmen came fourth and advanced to the final.
SPENCER HANOVER REPEAT
Diabolic Hill and driver Todd McCarthy won the second elim, taking control of the first corner and never relinquishing the lead en route to a 1:53.1 victory. Nix Nacken finished second, followed by Land The Plane and LP Bay to advance to the finals. Cambridge Hanover also advanced, finishing in fifth place with the highest earnings.
The nine finalists from the eliminations joined Apex in next week’s final, who automatically advanced as the winner of the Peter Haughton Memorial.
In the first elimination, Spencer Hanover ran fourth, while Mr Big Spender and driver Mike Wilder led the field by fractions of :28, :58 and 1:26.4. Mr Big Spender fended off a first-over push from 6-5 favorite Im Kronos S and driver Ake Svanstedt, but Spencer Hanover followed that rival’s cover and sprinted home in a time of 26.3 for the win.
“Once I had Aké in front of me, I knew I really had live coverage,” Bartlett said. “The pace was not too high and quite sensible. The aim was of course to get into the final, but we had a good ride.
“In the middle of the last corner I thought I was in the winning spot if he kicked home like he did the other day at Vernon, and he certainly did that.”
Spencer Hanover, who set a track record in the Big Apple Trot for freshman colts and geldings on Oct. 11 at Vernon Downs, is trained by Marcus Melander for owners Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. The son of Chapter Seven-Secret Passion was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. The win was the colt’s second of the season by three seconds and a third in 11 starts.
Friday’s race was Spencer Hanover’s third race since the addition of trotting bumps.
“(People told me) he’s a really nice horse,” Bartlett said. “And then adding the bumps just seems to give him a little bit of confidence.”
Spencer Hanover was sent off as second choice at 9-5 and paid $5.70 to win.
In the second elimination, which featured the late scratch of pre-race favorite Endurance, Diabolic Hill surged from post four to lead the field by fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:25.3 en route to victory by 3-1/4 lengths.
“The plan was that we probably wanted to follow a helmet here in the elim, and we stayed up there at the front, but it was pretty soft factions, so I was fine with it,” McCarthy said. “And he trotted home very strong. He was a real professional tonight.”
Diabolic Hill is trained by Annie Stoebe, owner of the Mazza Racing Stables colt. The son of Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream was bred by AM Bloodstock. He has won four of eight races this season and has been on the board twice more.
DIABOLIC HILL REPEAT
In his previous start, Diabolic Hill finished fourth in the Mohawk Million on September 20. On October 9, he qualified in 1:56.1 at the Meadowlands in preparation for the Breeders Crown.
“I had a lot of confidence,” Stoebe said. “He qualified as a beast and the Mohawk Million has really matured him. He’s really become a great horse to be around, and he’s settled in a lot on the track, making him more manageable for Todd.”
Diabolic Hill was sent off as the 1-2 favorite and paid $3.10.
After the eliminations, the draw for the final took place. Elimination winners Spencer Hanover and Diabolic Hill, as well as Apex, tied for posts one through six. Here is the field in mail order:
1. Summit (Walter)
2. Spencer Hanover (Chapter seven)
3. Devil’s Hill (Muscle Hill)
4. Nothing Neck (Muscle Hill)
5. Land the plane (Tactical landing)
6. Kingsmen (Walter)
7. LP Bay (Trixton)
8. Cambridge Hanover (Walter)
9. I am Kronos S (Walter)
10. Mr. Big Spender (Captain Corey)
By Ken Weingartner for Woodbine Mohawk Park
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