EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. Donatella Hanover and My Inspiration finished in a
dead-heat for the win on Friday night in the $30,000 Duenna Stakes for
3-year-old trotting fillies at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.
Fittingly,
the program on the eve of the Hambletonian was a festival of mostly trotting
races.
Donatella
Hanover surged from seventh to force the deadlock, her fifth win in 15 starts
for Christinatakterandthekids. Brett Miller was at the lines for trainer Jimmy
Takter.
My
Inspiration, who had battled to the front in deep stretch only to get nailed at
the wire, improved to 2 for 10 for Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz with Corey
Callahan driving for trainer Trond Smedshammer.
The
time was 1:54.
Michelle
Crawford pumped her fist in the air as A Penny Earned was an easy winner in the
$27,500 racing under saddle competition. The 5-year-old gelding, trained by
George Ducharme, who captured last year’s Hambletonian with Royalty For Life,
posted his second racing-under-saddle win in five tries. The time was 1:57 2/5.
There
were also eight Grand Circuit divisions of the Kindergarten Stakes for
2-year-old trotters each worth $10,000.
In
the colt and gelding divisions:
French
Laundry cruised to a convincing 5 1-4 length win in 1:55 3/5 with Yannick
Gingras driving for Takter. They will team up with 4-5 favorite Father Patrick
in the Hambletonian.
It
was the second win in three starts for the $115,000 Lexington purchase for
Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
The
time was 1:55 3/5.
Gingras
and Habitat held off The Bank for his maiden victory in 1:54 2/5.
Ron Burke trains the $50,000
Lexington purchase for Burke Racing, Our
Horse Cents Stables and Weaver Bruscemi.
P
Mac Attack won his debut in 1:57 2/5 in a 12-1 upset. Marcus Johansson
drove the Richard & Joyce McClelland homebred for his wife Nancy.
In
the filly divisions:
Speak
To Me, the 1-10 favorite, did not disappoint. The $80,000 Harrisburg
purchase by Brittany Farms improved to 4 for 4 for Gingras and Takter. The time
was 1:53 4/5.
The
boss’s horse, Allerage Star won in 1:57 2/5 for Jeff Gural, chairman of
the New Meadowlands Racetrack and his Little E Stable. Corey Callahan was at
the lines for trainer Jessica Okusko as the $18,000 Harrisburg purchase got her
first win in three starts.
Josie’s
Joy edged Pad Princess by a neck in 1:55 3/5 for the Hall of Fame duo of
driver John Campbell and trainer Chuck Sylvester.
It
was second win in three starts for Nicholas Cimino’s homebred.
Sistas
pulled a 29-1 upset in her second start following a 23-length loss in
Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. Marcus Johansson drove his wife’s trainee for the
ownership team of Crawford, Crawford and Crawford.
The
$17,000 yearling purchase at Lexington trotted the mile in 1:57.
Lady
Clarabella, Paul Kinnear’s homebred, got her maiden win in 1:58 2/5. David
Miller drove for trainer Randy Beeckman. Even-money favorite Iluvmyjimmychoos
finished second despite jumping off stride at the finish wire. The judges
determined she did not violate the breaking rules and left her in the place
spot.\
Saturday
is Hambletonian Day. Post time is noon. Gates open at 10 a.m. Post
Time for The $1 Million Hambletonian is 5:11 P.M.
For
all things Hambletonian go to http://www.ustrotting.com/trackside/hambletonian/
and www.playmeadowlands.com.
