By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A pair of
Hambletonian Oaks champions were the winners of the two $30,000 divisions of
the third leg of the Miss Versatility Series for Open mare trotters at The
Meadowlands Saturday night.
Manchego put a beating on seven
overmatched foes in the first split, bringing back fond recollections for
driver Yannick Gingras. “It was great getting to drive her again,” said
Gingras, who last drove the Nancy Takter trainee in September of 2019 at Scioto
Downs. “Winning the [2018 Hambletonian] Oaks with her was great. I have great
memories with her.”
The 6-year-old daughter of Muscle
Hill-Secret Magic, whose usual pilot Dexter Dunn was on the sidelines serving a
suspension, sat a five-hole trip in the early going as the overwhelming 1-9
favorite and did not get into things until just before the half, as she made
her way uncovered toward leader A Fancy Face, who reached the half in :55.1.
Manchego was at the leader’s throat
on the far turn, surged to the top as they straightened away for the stretch
drive, and went on to an easy 4-length score in 1:50.4 to stay perfect in three
starts this year. Felicityshagwell S was second with No Mas Drama third.
Upping her lifetime stats to 36 wins
from 59 starts and earnings of $2,855,276, Manchego, who has already won the
Cutler and Maxie Lee this season, returned $2.20 to win.
“She has developed into a different
horse and it was a pleasure to get to sit behind her,” said Gingras of the
current top-ranked horse in the weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
national Top 10 poll. “She really is two fingers to drive in the hole. She
raced like a true professional.”
Division two was taken by 2019 Oaks
winner When Dovescry, who, for a second consecutive Miss Versatility start, was
allowed to rate a modest middle half, which resulted in a hard-fought neck win
over Next Level Stuff in 1:51.4.
“If there had been a hole early, I
would have taken it,” said winning driver Dave Miller. “But I let her settle
and she went on to the lead easily.”
The Brett Pelling trainee, a
5-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill-Cedar Dove, sprinted the opening split in
:26.4 to make the lead before being permitted to cut a middle half of :58, one
week after a sleepy :59.4 clocking led to her first win of the season.
Next Level Stuff, the 7-5 second
choice, came calling around the far turn, but could not pass the eventual
winner after a stretch-long battle. Ab’sattitudexpress was third.
“When Timmy [Tetrick, driving Next
Level Stuff] came at me, I knew it would be a nice battle,” said Miller. “In
the first leg she went by us [on May 8], but my horse was pretty game tonight.”
When Dovescry returned $4.20 as the
even-money choice and now has 14 wins from 32 lifetime starts, good for
earnings of $1,159,158.
I’LL HAVE A HOT TODDY: Todd McCarthy had the hot hand as the
28-year-old native Australian guided five winners on the card, which
included a natural hat trick on races nine, 10 and 11.
A LITTLE MORE: Backstreet Shadow burst onto the
scene late and prevailed by a neck after a heated deep stretch, head-to-head
duel with 3-5 favorite Allywag Hanover to take the $35,000 Preferred for pacers
in 1:48 at odds of 11-1 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Ron Burke. … Tetrick
finished the night with three victories. Tony Alagna trained three to victory
lane. … All-source betting totaled $3,044,175. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20
p.m.
