by James Witherite
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ramona Hill ($2.80) became the second filly in three years to win the $1 million Hambletonian, using a strong middle move to achieve command en route to a 1:50.1 victory in the 95th edition of the classic for 3-year-old trotters, held on Saturday (Aug. 8) at The Meadowlands.
The daughter of Muscle Hill surged clear of Threefiftytwo on the backstretch, achieved control just beyond a :54.3 first half mile, and parried an outside threat from Ready For Moni through the far turn. Ramona Hill edged clear off the home corner and found the finish line a length in front of a hard-driven Ready For Moni. Back Of The Neck followed second-over cover to finish third.
It was the first Hambletonian triumph for both driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna. Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert LeBlanc and In The Gym Partners own nine-time winner Ramona Hill, whose 1:50.1 time equaled Muscle Hill's mark for the fastest Hambletonian final.
Atlanta (2018), Continentalvictory (1996) and Duenna (1983) are the only other three fillies to have won the Hambletonian since the race moved to The Meadowlands.
