Guida Hopes to Keep Streak Alive in Cane Pace at Yonkers

The Cane Pace has become Lou Guida’s private property and the veteran horseman hopes the streak continues Saturday night when the opening leg of the Triple Crown is staged at Yonkers Raceway.

Guida has produced the last three Cane winners -- Dancing Master in 1989, Jake and Elwood in 1990 and Silky Stallone in a stakes record of 1 minute, 53 3-5 seconds last year.

Crouch, the 12-1 fourth choice to be driven by Luc Ouellette, wear’s Guida’s colors in the $364,350 eight-horse race this time.

Western Hanover is the 2-5 prohibitive favorite with driver Bill Fahy from post position five, while Crouch leaves from the three hole.

“I really hate that position,” said Jerry Riordan, trainer of Crouch which finished fourth to Western Hanover in the first of two Cane Pace eliminations last Saturday.

“However, as I step back from my initial feelings, it’s not all that bad. Normally, you have to come first over or you get locked in.”

Western Hanover, 8-3-1 after 13 races this year with earnings of $840,212, appears unbeatable. He’s coming off a leisurely 3-length victory in one of last week’s two eliminations in 1:55 2-5 seconds.