The event, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over five divisions, with Upandover Hanover, RT Picaadilly, Freedom Ridge and Hard Livin winning the other splits.

Cassis got away cleanly from the rail and saved ground past the 3/4 pole. It was only when Baximum wrested the lead from Asabi Hanover that trainer/driver Ray Schnittker asked Cassis for trot.

“He’s like a little professional racehorse already,” Schnittker said of the $60,000 yearling acquisition. “He’s got it figured out. I don’t know what he’ll be down the road, but he’s really nice right now. He raced like an aged horse today. He’ll win a lot of races on manners alone.”

Cassis scored in 1:59.3, 1-1/2 lengths better than Baximum, while Asabi Hanover saved show. Schnittker owns Cassis, a son of Cantab Hall-Dirty Martini, with Jerry Silva, Arden Homestead Stable and Kelk’s.

Upandover Hanover also demonstrated willingness to pass horses, coming first over for Brett Miller to down the closing Texas Ridge by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:59.4. Early leader Marquesas finished third.

Towering Oaks Farm purchased the son of Andover Hall-Up Front Lisa at Harrisburg for $40,000, which trainer Scott Cox considers a bargain.

“He kind of slipped through, I think,” Cox said. “He just knows what to do. I’d like to say I taught him, but since Day 1, he’s known where to take hold of you, what to do, everything. We probably have to work on his gate speed, but we’ll worry about that later on. I don’t like them leaving just yet. He loves to pass horses, so that’s what we’ll do.”

RT Picaadilly had a date for the Big Butler Fair on Thursday, an engagement he won’t keep following his outstanding career debut in the Hickory Pride. He scored a front-end victory for Aaron Merriman in 1:59.4, fastest mile this year by a 2-year-old gelding trotter on a 5/8-mile track. On The Tab was a length back in second, with Admirable Hanover third.

“He’s been working well for my cousin, Tom Loughry, who splits the herd with me and should get all the credit,” winning trainer Robert Rougeaux III said of the Brocious Racing Stable homebred. “We were using his qualifiers as learning experiences, so we had him ready for tonight.

“He’s paid up at the fairs, but I don’t know how many fairs he’ll hit if he keeps throwing down miles like this.”

HICKORY PRIDE NOTES. In the $27,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace, Jans Luck floated to the lead, then sailed on the front end to prevail in 1:51.3, equaling the track record for aged mares she already shared with Always Cam. Ron Burke trains Jans Luck, who pushed her career bankroll past $700,000, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable. It was one of five winning drives on the 16-race card for Dave Palone.

Evan PATTAK