By Frank Cotolo for The Meadowlands
EAST
RUTHERFORD, NJ – On Nov. 21, a filly defended her crown while a gelding of
regal blood scored himself high honors in Fall Final Four action at the
Meadowlands.
Anoka
Hanover won the $451,800 Goldsmith Maid for freshman trotting fillies—sponsored
by Hunterton Farms. Todd McCarthy drove the Noel Daley-trained filly to victory
in 1:53.2. The Kindergarten Classic champion scored her seventh-straight win of
the season and her 10th win in 14 starts.
Beautiful
Game was rushed to the front entering the first turn but settled for the pocket
to a :28.1 opening quarter as Insta Glam cruised to the lead. Race-favorite
Anoka Hanover, from the pylon post, protected position to race third, and
stayed put at the pegs while Insta Glam sped to a :55.4 half. But, to the far
turn and with the Breeders Crown champ Lady Chaos ranging uncovered, McCarthy
moved his charge for the leader.
Insta Glam
began to feel the pressure of Anoka Hanover’s strong strides past
three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Lady Chaos spun her wheels and gapped cover.
Into the stretch, Anoka Hanover drew away from the field to score easily by two-and-a-quarter
lengths. Soaring up the inside came Flawless Country, who finished second,
passing Beautiful Game, third, and Wet My Whistle, fourth.
Noel Daley
co-owns the daughter of Donato Hanover—Aunt Mel along with LA Express Stable
LLC and Caviart Farms.
“She’s been
phenomenal,” Todd McCarthy said after the race. “Noel’s done an unbelievable
job managing her. The success we’ve had with her has been a dream come true for
me. She’s been getting better and better all the time. I love her attitude; she
wants to do the job every time.”
Buck Chaffee
of Caviart Farms said none of the connections thought Anoka Hanover was as
classy as she raced this season. “She didn’t look great as a baby. We didn’t
know she was good until she started racing,” he said. “As owners we’re happy.
This is one of those pleasant surprises.”
As the
public’s choice, Anoka Hanover paid $2.80 to win. She increased her earnings to
$599,053.
Bee Forever,
with Victor Kirby at the reins, pulled off an upset in the $398,650 Valley
Victory for freshman trotting colts and geldings—sponsored by Kentuckiana
Farms—closing with confidence down the stretch to win in 1:54.
Bee Forever
was in no rush to leave, settling in ninth as Dees Red Delicous, race-favorite
On A Streak, and Incommunicado stepped quickly off the gate. Incommunicado
grabbed the top spot, but gave way past a :27.4 first quarter as Dees Red
Delicous strode to the front. On A Streak, positioned fourth, then made his
move for the lead, cruising by Dees Red Delicous through a :55.4 half before
bearing a first-over charge from Zenith Stride to the far turn. Zenith Stride
kept the pressure on the leader to three-quarters in 1:25.1, but grew leg weary
off the turn.
Storming
three-wide from near last, Bee Forever found a clear path to aim at the finish
line, and full of trot, Kirby did not have to urge the son of Muscle Hill—Bee A
Magician to glide safely to victory by a neck. On A Streak held for second and
Delayed Hanover followed to get third.
Richard
“Nifty” Norman trains Bee Forever, who won his second race in nine starts.
“The first
time I drove Bee Forever, Nifty told me the colt can trot really fast but he’s
green and needs to be taught. Every week he got better.” Kirby said in Bee
Forever’s Kindergarten Final performance two weeks ago, “if I shake free, he
wins, so I knew if he gets open space it would work out.”
Bee Forever
has now earned $240,986 at two and Kirby feels there’s a lot more to come at
three. “You’re going to hear from him next year,” he said.
Bee Forever
paid $30.60 to win.
