by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Making her return to the races
after she spent her two-year-old season in the shadows of JK She'salady, Sassa
Hanover ($2.70) proved dominant in her sophomore debut, trouncing six other
three-year-old pacing fillies in her $30,450 New York Sire Stakes event on
Saturday (May 16) evening at Vernon Downs.
The Rock N Roll Heaven-Sayo
Hanover filly was a fair bit off the early pace, tracking from midfield as
Mosquito Hanover (Chris Lems) and Not Before Eight (John MacDonald) alternated
on the lead through a :55.2 initial half mile. On the backstretch, Andy
McCarthy moved Sassa Hanover off the pegs, commencing a strong push to the fore
well before reaching the far turn. Upon clearing Not Before Eight, Sassa
Hanover was faced with a first-over challenge from Bossers Joy (Greg Merton),
but she quickly dismissed that rival, kicking clear to a 5-1/2 length victory
in 1:51. Bossers Joy narrowly held second from Not Before Eight, who
labored late after chasing from the pocket.
Trainer Ron Burke's Burke
Racing Stable co-owns seven-time winner Sassa Hanover with the Panhellenic
Stable, the Weaver Bruscemi partnership, and Larry Karr.
Daughters of Bettor's Delight
took two of the other three Sire Stakes splits, with Bettorhaveanother ($22.40,
Chris Lems, 1:51) and Bettor Be Steppin ($3.50, Corey Callahan, 1:51.3) proving
victorious. Art Major filly Moonlit Dance ($13.00, Joe Pavia, Jr.,
1:52.1) rounded out the quartet of Sire Stakes winners on the evening's program.
Live racing returns to Vernon
Downs on Sunday (May 17) afternoon, with first post time set for 1:15 p.m.
