Nichols, N.Y. -- An early-afternoon deluge could not deter
Hannelore Hanover ($2.10, part of entry) in Sunday (August 14) afternoon's
$40,000 Miss Versatility preliminary at Tioga, as she made easy work of her
eight rivals with plenty in reserve at the end of a 1:52.4 mile.
Fresh off victories in the Armbro Flight, Hambletonian
Maturity, and Fresh Yankee, the 4-year-old Swan For All mare floated gently
into third on approach to the first turn, allowing White Becomes Her (Scott
Coulter) and Rules of the Road (Jim Morrill, Jr.) to dispute the terms through
a :27.1 first quarter before making her bid to the fore with nine-sixteenths of
the mile remaining. The Ron Burke trainee cleared White Becomes Her easily at
the completion of a :56 half, and she subsequently responded to mild first-over
pressure from Jewels in Hock (John Campbell) up the far side. After being
nudged along through a :28.1 third sectional, Hannelore Hanover drew away
gradually while in hand, posting a 3-1/4 length victory over runner-up Jewels
in Hock. Third-place finisher Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory) slid second-over on
approach to the far turn and stayed on through the straight.
Yannick Gingras was once again in the bike behind Hannelore
Hanover, who captured her 21st career win. The Burke Racing Stable, the Weaver
Bruscemi partnership, and Frank Baldachino own the talented mare, whose career
bankroll mounted to $885,763.
A pair of New York Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old pacing
colts and geldings shared center stage with the Miss Versatility preliminary,
with American Passport ($10.80) and Roll Away Joe ($2.70) the victorious duo.
American Passport used a bold three-wide push on approach to
the far turn to collar the dueling Missile J (Tim Tetrick) and Nox Vegas
Bluechip (Jim Marohn, Jr.), drawing off at will as the pace collapsed for a
six-length, 1:51.4 win over the late-rallying Talk Show (Morrill) in the
$60,200 fifth race. Scott Zeron drove the son of American Ideal for trainer
Tony Alagna.
In the $59,100 sixth event, Roll Away Joe brushed to the
fore with a circuit to go and narrowly held off a four-wide charge from 40-1
outsider Bottom Deals (Tetrick) to prevail by half a length in 1:51.3. Jim
Morrill, Jr. drove the Roll With Joe gelding for trainer Tracy Brainard.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Monday (August 15)
evening, with the first of 11 races due off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
