3 Year Olds tackle older foes, Manchego take on the boys, and 2 year olds shine on TVG night
(All Photo Credit: Lisa Photo)
Caviart Ally noses Shartin N to win TVG Mare Pace Championship
EAST RUTHERFORD NJ – It took a while for the Bettor’s Delight mare Caviart Ally ($8.80) to find a way to defeat the season-long pacing mare divisional leader Shartin N, but “Ally” was able to exploit the late-found knowledge for the third time in recent weeks, just nosing out her ultimate rival in taking the $175,000 TVG Mare Pace Final Saturday night at The Meadowlands in a stakes-record 1:48.3.
Youaremycandygirl made the early lead, then yielded to Kissin In The Sand before the :27.1 quarter. Shortly into the backstretch, the archrivals were on the move, with Caviart Ally first coming from third to grab the lead before the half, then yielding to 1-2 favorite Shartin N just past the :54.1 half. Apple Bottom Jeans and three-year-old Warrawee Ubeaut were first- and second-over, respectively, on the far turn past the 1:21.3 three-quarters, but in the stretch they couldn’t come closer, giving Caviart Ally and driver Andrew McCarthy the chance to vacate the pocket nearing midstretch.
The stretch drive was harness racing at its best, with Shartin N giving her all to hold her lead to the finish, with Caviart Ally charging after the two-hole trip. Caviart Ally just got the nod in the last steps over her game opponent; Kissin In The Sand (third-in) and Warrawee Ubeaut were next in line.
Trainer Brett Pelling was confident that his mare would be better tonight than in her last start, when she was a no-factor third behind Shartin N: “That race was a late addition to our schedule; I was fairly sure she would bounce back.” Asked about Caviart Ally returning to the track next year for the Caviart Farms, the conditioner said, “Well, we haven’t talked about that yet, but my vote would be yes.”
Caviart Ally has nine wins and $672,215 in a season where she has not missed the board in 19 starts. Shartin N needed to finish first to become the first pacing mare to have consecutive $1 million seasons, but the defending champion’s $2,035,413 over the last two campaigns, with 34 wins, is by no means insignificant.
A win by Shartin N, coupled with other finishes in the evening, might have solidified Horse of the Year honors for her; she still could earn the award, but Caviart Ally’s nose will make a long discussion of supremacy extend even further.
Six Pack closes out his career with TVG Open Trot victory
by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
East Rutherford, NJ — Six Pack went out a winner, capping his career by capturing Saturday’s (Nov. 23) $350,000 TVG Open Trot championship by three-quarters of a length with a track-record 1:50 performance over a surface labeled “good” because of rain at The Meadowlands.
Manchego, the lone mare in the race, finished second and Guardian Angel AS was third. Gimpanzee, the 3-year-old taking on older trotters, finished fourth.
Guardian Angel AS took the lead on the first turn while Six Pack, on the inside, and Manchego, on the outside, battled for second through an opening quarter in :26.3. Guardian Angel AS gave up the front to Manchego in a half of :53.4, with Six Pack third and Gimpanzee fourth.
The top four remained in that order as Manchego reached three-quarters in 1:22.4, but Six Pack was on the move and came home with a :26.3 final quarter to hit the wire first. The winning time established the track record for 4-year-old stallion trotters.
“It was a perfect trip for him,” trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt said about Six Pack. “It was a fast first quarter and fast first half, so then I thought I had a good chance to win.”
Six Pack, by Muscle Mass out of Pleasing Lady, is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E-Knutssontrotting, Stall Kalmar Inc., and L Berg Inc. He was bred by Brittany Farms.
For the year, Six Pack has won four of 12 races and earned $581,314. Lifetime, the 4-year-old stallion won 19 of 35 races and $1.93 million. He will stand at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey.
Six Pack was a Dan Patch Award winner at age 3, when he became the fastest 3-year-old trotter in history with a 1:49.1 mile. This season, he became the fastest 4-year-old male trotter, with a 1:49.2 score.
Always A Prince is crowned a winner in TVG Open Pace
by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
East Rutherford, NJ — Always A Prince and driver Yannick Gingras went to the front from post eight and never looked back, rolling to a 1:48.2 win in Saturday’s (Nov. 23) $350,000 TVG Open Pace championship at The Meadowlands. The margin of victory was 4-3/4 lengths.
Bettor’s Wish, the lone 3-year-old in the field of older male pacers, finished second and American History was third.
Always A Prince, trained by Tyler George, set fractions of :27, :55, and 1:22.1 on his way to the win. It was Gingras’ first drive behind Always A Prince, a 4-year-old gelding, who was sent off at odds of 5-1.
“He certainly left a good impression,” Gingras said. “(I was told) he’s really nice to drive, he can race either way, and left it up to me behind the gate. When the gate opened, there wasn’t much speed. A couple horses left inside of me, but I was able to get a really good first half, and I think it made the difference.
“When I looked at the race, I didn’t see a crazy amount of speed. I thought there were more horses that were looking to race from behind, so I thought maybe it could work out that way. But maybe once every 20 times it works out the way I think.”
For the year, Always A Prince has won four of 18 races and earned $362,835. He has won 23 of 40 lifetime starts and $855,710.
Always A Prince, by Always A Virgin out of Glorious Princess, is owned by Carl Atley and Melanie Atley. He was bred by Emerald Highlands Farm.
Following the race, a retirement ceremony was held in the winner’s circle for 8-year-old stallion McWicked, who finished fifth.
McWicked, a Dan Patch Award winner at age 3 and the Horse of the Year in 2018, ended his career with 40 wins in 110 races and $4.93 million. He is owned by Ed James’ S S G Stables, trained by Casie Coleman, and driven by Brian Sears.
Emoticon hanover outsprints Atlanta for upset in TVG Mare Trot Championship
By Jerry Connors, for The Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD NJ – For most of its initial stakes race, the TVG Mare Trot final, the Fall Super Saturday Championship card at The Meadowlands didn’t look like it would get off to an unusual start, but that changed in the final sixteenth, as Emoticon Hanover ($16.40) unleashed a vicious sprint from the pocket to catch 1-9 favorite and pacesetter Atlanta, winning in 1:51.4 to both defend her title in this event and equal the 2016 stakes record of Hannelore Hanover.
Darling Mearas S made a break behind the gate; once the gate sprung, Atlanta from post one, Emoticon Hanover from post two, and Beautiful Sin from post three all left rapidly, but Atlanta asserted herself through track geometry heading into turn one, with the field lined up through post position order through a :27.3 quarter and a :56.3 half.
Late on the far turn, the sophomore Beautiful Sin came out of third to increase the tempo nearing the 1:25.2 quarter, and Atlanta shifted into a very high gear. And so did Emoticon Hanover from the pocket, staying on the pacesetter’s back, then clearing to the outside for driver Dan Dube inside of the eighth pole. Emoticon Hanover quickly shifted into overdrive, gaining about two lengths into a :26.2 last quarter (and probably a sub-:13 eighth) and had enough thrust to surprise the favorite by a head. Hannelore Hanover went inside in the stretch and finished third, beaten just a length.
“I figured that I would sit the trip behind Atlanta,” Dube noted after the race. “When the pace picked up on the far turn, I thought we might have a chance to catch her.”
Emoticon Hanover, a six-year-old daughter of Kadabra, now has two TVG Final wins and a 2017 Breeders Crown championship among her 26 career wins, which has brought $1,765,383 for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination.
The TVG Mares final was the last career race for Darling Mearas S, Meadowlands track recordholder and winner of $837,308, and the 2017 Harness Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover, she of the multiple triumphs in open company and $3,069,857. Hannelore Hanover will now be bred to Greesnhoe; her regular driver, Yannick Gingras, noted in retirement ceremonies that “I wouldn’t mind driving that one.”
Papi Rob Hanover soars to colt pace victory; JK First Lady best of fillies
By Frank Cotolo for the Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Papi Rob Hanover dominated the freshman-pacer field to win the Governor’s Cup and JK First Lady won the Three Diamonds freshman-filly pace at the Meadowlands on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Papi Rob Hanover, the 1-9 favorite, was never challenged winning the $401,850 Governor’s Cup for two-year-old pacing colts in a 1:51.1 mile.
Driver David Miller was in no hurry to get to the lead with Papi Rob Hanover. Miller sat on his charge fourth behind the fast-leaving Captain Groovy, who quickly surrendered the lead to Cattlewash moving to a :27.3 first quarter. Lake Charles followed in third.
Papi Rob Hanover then made a flashy brush, passing his three foes and easily clearing them for the lead to record a half of :56.4.
Papi Rob Hanover dictated the second half. He kept the lead strongly, clocking three-quarters in 1:25 and drawing away to win by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:51.1.
Father Nuno closed from far back to take second by a nose over Cattlewash.
Trainer Brett Pelling said his winning colt “has done absolutely everything; two track records, a sire stakes champion and now the Governor’s Cup winner. He’s just a fabulous animal. He wins and he dominates.”
Papi Rob Hanover’s owner, David McDuffee, said, “Brett told me early last winter ‘you got a really special one here I’m gonna tell ya.’”
Papi Rob Hanover, by Somebeachsomewhere—Panera Hanover, won his sixth race of the season. His earnings increased to $756,783.
He paid $2.20 to win.
Jules Siegel sponsored the Governor’s Cup.
Storming up the middle of the stretch, JK First Lady won the $411,000 Three Diamonds for two-year-old pacing fillies by a neck in a career-best 1:49.2.
Starting from the far outside 10 post, Rocknificent launched to the top off the gate for a good spot early as favorite Lyons Sentinel took the lead to cut a :26.4 first quarter. Hen Party followed Rocknifcent as the trio raced to the half. JK First Lady and driver Yannick Gingras sat saving ground in fifth.
Marloe Hanover went first over to challenge Lyons Sentinel, giving live cover to JK First Lady as the half went in :55.3.
Lyons Sentinel paced in control of the field to a 1:23 three-quarters while Marloe Hanover forced a duel turning into the stretch. On the inside, Rocknificent was full of pace, closing up the rail quickly to pass the dueling duo.
Brushing late and passing fillies handily, JK First Lady paced a winning path down the middle of the track as 23-1 Rocknificent paced with power on the rail to finish second. Lyons Sentinel had enough left to hold on for third.
Gingras said, "I really liked my spot in the first turn. I figured if Marloe Hanover moves to the front first, I get to follow Lyons Sentinel or vice versa. So I was really liking where I got away.”
Nancy Johansson trains JK First Lady, who won her fifth race of the year and increased her bankroll to $371,500 for owner 3 Brothers Stable.
A daughter of Western Ideal—JK She’salady, JK First Lady paid $8.20 to win.
“We gave her a little bit of a break after the Breeders Crown,” Johansson said. “She was really wound up that day even when I warmed her up. But she's been a nice filly all year. I'm happy she got a big win finally.
“Obviously it's very special to train a first foal out of a mare like JK She'salady. She was a great filly for me, the first horse that really put me on the map. It's extra super special that she got to win a stakes race that her mom won, too.”
EL Ideal lands in Valley Victory; Senorita Rita takes Goldsmith Maid
By Ray Cotolo, for the Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The trotting side of the Fall Final Four saw a favorite foiled and a favorite deliver.
Misfortune for 1-2 favorite Amigo Volo paid fortune for 3-1 second choice EL Ideal in the $505,050 Valley Victory Final—sponsored by Kentuckiana Farms—on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Meadowlands.
At the gate’s acceleration Amigo Volo lost stride, racing distanced from the field while driver Andy Miller landed EL Ideal on the lead. “It was just kind of my race from there,” Miller later said in the winner’s circle.
The Ake Svanstedt-trained Muscle Hill colt controlled the tempo through a :28.1 first quarter and :57.4 half as Amigo Volo hustled to come back into contact with the field.
EL Ideal faced his main challenge from Ready For Moni in the final turn. The latter drew to the leader’s wheel passing three-quarters in 1:26.1 but could only give pursuit in the straightaway. EL Ideal dashed away, hitting the finish two-and-one-quarter lengths better than Ready For Moni in a 1:53.2 mile, with Chestnut Hill—sitting pocket the whole mile—taking third and Moveoutofmyway K fourth.
“Halfway down the lane behind the gate I saw [Amigo Volo] was a little unsteady,” Andy Miller said after the race, “so I didn’t know when he ran or what happened but I thought he probably ran when he didn’t move at the quarter.
“This horse is quick off the car and then he relaxes really good,” Miller also said. “Ake’s done a great job managing him and keeping him under control.”
Owned by Emp Invest Oy, EL Ideal won his fourth race from 10 starts, pushing his career bankroll to $523,934. He paid $8.00 to win.
A couple weeks ago after Senorita Rita won the Kindergarten Classic final trainer Linda Toscano said some trotting fillies “got it or they don’t.” Her Chapter Seven pupil continued to prove she may “got it” with a win in the $475,100 Goldsmith Maid, sponsored by Hunterton Farms.
Driver Scott Zeron positioned Senorita Rita third while Sister Sledge protected position from the pylons to grab the front moving to a :28 first quarter. Positions remained unchanged through a :56.4 half but Zeron made his move entering the final turn.
Sister Sledge scooted away from Queen Of The Hill in second while Senorita Rita tried to recoup ground trotting to three-quarters in 1:25.1. Circling into the stretch Sister Sledge appeared to have Senorita Rita measured, but Zeron kept his filly straight under urging to then surge by and nail Sister Sledge by a head in a career-best mile of 1:53. Hall Of Am S took third with Common Sense S fourth.
“[Sister Sledge] got a great jump on me at the three-quarter pole and it felt like an insurmountable deficit to make up,” Zeron said after the race. “But when I straightened up and my filly corrected I pulled the plugs and she went into orbit. It was a matter of ‘Where’s that wire?’ because I had to maintain her speed. As long as I did that I thought I’d get up.”
Owner Kenneth Jacobs opted to sideline Senorita Rita in July to ready her for a late-season campaign on the Grand Circuit. In eight starts Senorita Rita has won six, finishing no worse than second while also accruing $421,985.
“She was just beautiful; I really wanted to get her,” Jacobs said of purchasing Senorita Rita as a yearling for $285,000. “They pushed me a little bit on the price but that’s okay. I figure we’re even now.”
“It’s nice to have a fresh filly this time of year,” Jacobs also said.
Senorita Rita returned $4.20 to win.
