Ahundreddollarbill, Iteration, Darlene Hanover win Empire Breeders Classic
June 19, 2021,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.
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.
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.
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