Ahundreddollarbill, Iteration, Darlene Hanover win Empire Breeders Classic

Vernon, NY — Sire Chapter Seven had a big night on Friday (June 19), with victories in all three divisions of the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs.

Darlene Hanover dug down late to win the $102,500 Empire Breeders Classic Friday night (June 18) at Vernon Downs. Fotowon Photo.

Andrew McCarthy came from off the pace in the first of a pair of victories in a $102,500 Empire Breeders Classic division for 3-year-old filly trotters with Darlene Hanover.

Getting away third, Sweeping Rainbow (David Miller) and Soukup Blue Chip (Andy Miller) would duke it out to a :28.2 opening quarter speed. McCarthy made a strong middle move to make the lead at the half and played catch me if you can heading to the three-quarter pole.

After getting a soft :29 third panel, McCarthy would have to deal with a charging Sweeping Rainbow who had something left in the tank throughout he final three-sixteenths of a mile. Darlene Hanover (Chapter Seven-Danielle Hanover) dug down deep to win by a head in 1:54.3. Early pace-setter Soukup Blue Chip rounded out the trifecta to finish third.

Fresh off a second place in a division of New York Sire Stakes action, Darlene Hanover has banked $64,988 this season for Yankeeland Partners LLP and trainer Brett Bittle. The daughter of Chapter Seven, who won the Jim Doherty Memorial as a 2-year-old, has banked just shy of $305,000 with a mark of 1:53.4.

Ahundreddollarbill gave Andrew McCarthy his second Empire Breeders Classic in the $205,500 colt division. Fotowon Photo.

McCarthy would utilize an almost identical trip to score his second Empire Breeders Classic victory aboard Ahundreddollarbill in the $205,500 colt division.

Incommunicado (Yannick Gingras) and Ambassador Hanover (Ake Svandstedt) left strongly together to a brisk :27 quarter. Incommunicado was able to ration out the speed through a :56.4 half and three-quarters in 1:26, having to deal with pressure from Ahundreddollarbill. Coming through the stretch McCarthy was able to pull away with Ahundreddollarbill with a strong :27.2 final quarter to win in 1:53.2 by 2-3/4 lengths. Ambassador Hanover was able to hold on for second with Incommunicado, the early front-stepper, third.

Trained by Tony Alagana, the son of Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty is now three-for-three in 2021 with $136,195 in the bank for owners Crawford Farms Racing and James A. Crawford IV.

Iteration gave Marcus Melander a victory on Friday in the $102,500 Empire Breeders Classic. Fotowon Photo.

The favorites were strong during stakes action at Vernon Downs and that would be no different with Iteration (Brian Sears) taking down the other $102,500 division of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old fillies.

Sitting just off the pace Sears made his move around Contested Hanover (Scott Zeron) approaching the half of :56.4 and never took his foot off of the gas pedal. Iteration would light up the teletimer with a pair of :28.1 panels to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1 for trainer Marcus Melander. Contested Hanover finished second with Moni For Lindy (Wally Hennessey) garnering the show position.

A New York Sire Stakes champion at two, Iteration (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows) is now two-for-two to kick off her sophomore season with $394,247 in career earnings for trainer Marcus Melander and Courant Inc.

Vernon Downs returns to action on on Saturday (June 19) with an 11-race program beginning at 6:10 p.m.  For more information, visit www.vernondowns.com

Back to Top

Share via