Manfred Hanover, a trotter with a thirst for Gatorade and an eye for the ladies, figures to be the toast of this toddlin` town`s sulky set when Hawthorne concludes its harness meeting with Saturday`s double program.
Undefeated in seven starts this year and author of a Hawthorne record in his Chicago debut last week, Manfred Hanover will be showcased in the first division of the Dygert Memorial Trot.
Both divisions will boast purses of $55,200. Manfred Hanover`s division will be the fifth race on the matinee card; the second will be the eighth race on the night program.
Owner-trainer Walter Szczepanski introduced Manfred Hanover to Gatorade, the thrist-quencher normally guzzled by two-legged athletes, late in 1984 after the horse began bleeding during and after races.
The drink is used in conjunction with the diuretic medication Lasix. It is consumed to replace the essential body elements such as sodium and potassium that are lost through the rigors of competition. According to Szczepanski, a quart a day keeps the veterinarian away.
The success of the potion is reflected in Manfred Hanover`s past performance sheet. Last year, the 6-year-old thrived on an arduous workload of 46 races, winning 24 and earning $456,905.
But it wasn`t a case of all work and no play. ”We bred 18-19 mares to him last year,” said Szczepanski. ”Monday he will take a break from racing to start his breeding chores again. Then, he will smile all the time.”
Meanwhile, Szczepanski is smiling all the way to the bank. He bought the son of 1972 Triple Crown winner Super Bowl for only $8,500 after the horse`s brief and unassuming racing debut as a 3-year-old. He made only one start in 1983, winning a qualifying race in 2:03 1/5, a far cry from last week`s 1:58 2/5 record performance in Hawthorne`s $20,000 Springboard Invitational.
”He missed his 2- and 3-year-old seasons and caught the tail end of his 4-year-old season,” said Szczepanski. ”That`s an asset to him. They tear up those 2- and 3-year-olds. I don`t care if I don`t get them to the races until they`re 4. You come out ahead in the long run.
”He`ll make me over a million dollars (lifetime) if he stays sound this year.”
Szczepanski bought Manfred Hanover at a sale at the Meadowlands in New Jersey because he was in the market for a stallion prospect at his farm in Clare, Mich.
Then he climbed into the sulky and discovered he had a potentially brilliant racehorse. ”When I first got him, my son didn`t think much of him,” recalled Szczepanski. ”I told my son: `You`re wrong about this horse. If I ever get him flat (gaited), I`ll guarantee he makes $100,000 the first year.` ”
Last year, Manfred Hanover made a prophet out of Szczepanski when he emerged as a late-blooming sulky superstar. He finished second behind Sandy Bowl in the balloting for Aged Trotter of the Year and was clocked in a career-best time of 1:55 2/5 in a race at the Meadowlands.
Before coming to Hawthorne, Manfred Hanover became the first horse in history to sweep all four legs of the Su Mac Lad trotting series at the Meadowlands.
