By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media
Relations Manager
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Hannelore
Hanover and Broadway Donna each won a $30,000 division of the Miss Versatility
Series for older female trotters Saturday night at the Meadowlands, with
Hannelore’s 1:50.2 score coming up just one-fifth of a second off the year’s
fastest trotting mile.
Hannelore Hanover, the defending Horse of the Year, was sent
off at 1-9 and led from start to finish for driver Yannick Gingras. Ice
Attraction, who tried to reel in Hannelore Hanover along the inside in the
stretch, finished second while Celebrity Ruth, who tried to challenge for the
lead on the final turn, was third. The margin of victory was a half-length.
“I was just measuring it in the stretch,” Gingras said. “I
don’t want to go more than I have to. She was really good.”
Hannelore Hanover, a daughter of Swan For All-High Sobriety,
has won all six of her starts this year and has earned $233,338. For her
career, she has won 42 of 64 races and $2.7 million. The 6-year-old mare is
trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, the Weaver Bruscemi
partnership, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva Stables.
Hannelore Hanover paid $2.10 to win.
Broadway Donna won her Miss Versatility division in 1:51.1,
equaling her career mark. The 5-year-old mare took the lead from Emoticon
Hanover on the backstretch and never looked back on her way to victory by 1½
lengths over Caprice Hill. Emoticon Hanover, the 1-2 favorite, finished third.
“I expected a little more speed early in the race,” winning
driver David Miller said. “When I saw (the opening quarter) in :28, I thought I
better make a move. I had to go a good second quarter, but she relaxed and had
plenty left on the end of it. She seems really good right now. She’s getting
pretty wise to racing, she knows what it’s all about.”
Broadway Donna has won three of five races this year and
earned $43,750 for owner Fashion Farms and trainer Jim Campbell. The daughter
of Donato Hanover-Broadway Schooner has won 20 of 37 career races and $1.32
million.
Sent off at odds of 2-1, Broadway Donna paid $6.60 to win as
the second choice in the wagering.
