Lexington, KY (Best E Casino) - Donato Hanover, winner of the Hambletonian, equaled the world record on Saturday with his victory in the $742,000 Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile. The Futurity is the final race in trotting's Triple Crown for three-year-olds.

Donato Hanover, driven by Ron Pierce, trotted the mile in 1:50 1/5 matching the record set earlier in the day by Giant Diablo. The previous mark of 1:50 2/5 was held by Tom Ridge.

The colt is trained by Steve Elliott and leased by David Scharf, Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold. Donato Hanover has won 19 straight races, 11 this year.

This year, Donato Hanover has earned more than $2 million, breaking Glidemaster's single season record of $1,918,701 for a trotter. Along with his Hambletonian victory the three-year-old won the Canadian Trotting Classic and World Trotting Derby. In his career he has earned almost $3 million with 19 wins in 20 lifetime starts.

Donato Hanover was held out of the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Yonkers Trot, which was won by Green Day.

Pierce drove the colt to victory in the second of two elimination races. The mile was trotted by Donato Hanover in 1:51 1/5, as he posted a two-length win over Arch Madness with Pampered Princess finishing third.

Flirtin Man, driven by co-owner John Campbell, won the first elimination race by 2 1/2 lengths over Standpoint while race favorite Green Day was third. Flirtin Man covered the mile in 1:52 2/5.

The first five across the finish line in each $192,920 elimination race advanced to the second heat.

There was only win wagering in the Kentucky Futurity final with Donato Hanover returning $2.10. Arch Madness was second and Green Day finished third. Rounding out the order of finish was Standpoint, Flirtin Man, Please Poppy, Photo Maxx, Mythical Lindy and Rune. Pampered Princess, the lone filly in the race, was scratched from the final heat.