by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Idyllic Beach spent a lot of time near the front of a lot of races last year, but driver Yannick Gingras says the filly doesn’t need to be setting fractions to be successful.

“I really like her versatility,” said Gingras, who will drive the award-winning Idyllic Beach in Saturday’s C$440,000 Fan Hanover Stakes for 3-year-old female pacers at Mohawk Racetrack. “As a 2-year-old maybe she was a little ahead of the other ones early on. I think I maybe got caught up racing on the front too many times and at the end of the year she was a little tired.

“But she can do it either way. She’s got huge speed, but you can use her anytime you want. If I can race her from behind I think she’s better chasing down horses. But if it’s a slow pace we’ll take it.”

Last year Idyllic Beach won eight of 14 races and never finished worse than third on her way to $647,678 in earnings for trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc., and Marvin Katz. She received Dan Patch and O’Brien awards for best 2-year-old filly pacer in the U.S. and Canada.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Idyllic Beach gets a kiss from caretaker Anette Zakrisson.

Idyllic Beach led at the first quarter of six races last year and was in front at the half-mile point 11 times. Only once was she worse than second at the half, when she rallied from sixth to win her elimination for the She’s A Great Lady Stakes at Mohawk. A week later she captured the final to join her dam, Idyllic, as a winner of the event.

This year, Idyllic Beach is unbeaten in two starts. She won her Fan Hanover elimination by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51. She was fourth at the half.

“She was very good,” said Gingras, who won the 2006 Fan Hanover with Darlin’s Delight. “She needed the start. I think it will do her a lot of good and she’ll be even better this week.”

Idyllic Beach, a daughter of stallion Somebeachsomewhere, is the 9-5 second choice on the morning line behind favorite Tequila Monday at 8-5. Takter has won four of the last six editions of the Fan Hanover, including last year’s with Pure Country. He has five Fan Hanover trophies overall.

Tequila Monday won her Fan Hanover elimination in 1:50.4 with Brian Sears driving for trainer Chris Oakes and owners Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey. Tequila Monday has won seven of 10 career races, including last year’s New York Sire Stakes championship and this year’s Lismore Pace, and never finished worse than second. She has earned $303,853.

“The race could go a lot of different ways; I’m not really sure,” Gingras said, adding with a laugh, “If it’s a slow pace I’m racing on the front, if it’s a fast pace I’m racing from behind. So we’ll see how that goes.

“Tequila Monday was really good too last week, but I’m confident in my horse. She’s got a big-time shot in there.”

Saturday’s card at Mohawk also includes the C$1 million North America Cup for 3-year-old male pacers, C$365,000 Roses Are Red Stakes for older female pacers, C$253,000 Armbro Flight Stakes for older female trotters, and C$251,000 Goodtimes Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m.

Following is the field for the Fan Hanover Stakes.

PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Bettor’s Up-Doug McNair-Scott McEneny-6/1
2-Al-Mar-Got A Fever-Trevor Henry-Mike Weller-10/1
3-She’s Watching-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna-12/1
4-Idyllic Beach-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-9/5
5-Tequila Monday-Brian Sears-Chris Oakes-8/5
6-Action Majesty-Sylvain Filion-Gregg McNair-15/1
7-Agent Q-David Miller-Aaron Lambert-10/1
8-Future Headlines-Tim Tetrick-Colin Johnson-25/1
9-Roaring To Go-Brett Miller-Kevin Lare-15/1
10-Dancing Shadows K-Randy Waples-Rod Boyd-25/1