East Rutherford, NJ — On Saturday (May 18) Hannelore Hanover, the swiftest female trotter in U.S. history and the 2017 Horse of the Year, demonstrated she has returned to prior form by defeating early Hambletonian favorite Gimpanzee by a head at The Meadowlands in a qualifier in 1:53.

Hannelore Hanover demonstrated she has returned to championship form with a victory over Gimpanzee in a qualifying race at Meadowlands on Saturday morning. Dean Gillette photo.

The daughter of Swan For All-High Sobriety, who has earned more than $2.83 million, made her 2019 debut an impressive one. Steered by Joe Bongiorno for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva, the 7-year-old mare settled in fifth through the early poles, then advanced to third by the 1:25.4 third panel. Hannelore Hanover then fanned wide and engaged Gimpanzee (Brian Sears), who was on the lead, then prevailed on the wire in 1:53 flat with a spectacular :26.4 final quarter-mile.

Beautiful Sin was just as impressive this morning, beating a field of quality male rivals by a neck. Driver Tim Tetrick moved the daughter of Muscle Hill first-over from fourth as they passed the :59.2 half-mile marker and brushed past the leader Gerry (Marcus Melander) through the :29.1 third panel. The filly, owned by S R F Stables, withstood the late charge of of Gerry to stop the clock in 1:55.3. Gerry stayed on for second while White Tiger (Sears) was a rated third.

Beautiful Sin was the highest priced yearling at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale ($480,000) and Per Engbloom is her trainer.

Trainer Domenico Cecere brought a string of Lindy Farms 3-year-old trotting colts in for their first foray of the new season. He also drove the Chapter Seven colt, Refi, to a front stepping victory in 1:56.1 with a :28.2 final quarter-mile by a head over stablemate Signor Cardin (Sears). Wing Suit (Zeron) was third. Refi is owned by Lindy Farms and Robert Rudolph.

Tony Alagna’s Captaintreacherous colts finished 1-2 in their qualifying race with Captain McKee (Tetrick) prevailing from the pocket in 1:52.3 over mile-cutter Captain Cash (Andy McCarthy). Magic Joe Lindy was (Zeron) third. Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Brad Grant and Captain Trevor Racing own the winner.

Another round of colts sired by 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Captaintreacherous swept the first three spots in the fifth qualifying race. Latissimus Hanover (Tetrick) led throughout to hold Captain Ahab (McCarthy) and Shipshape (Matt Krueger) at bay in 1:51.1. Trainer Ray Schnittker owns the speedy colt with Mary Kinsey Arnold and Ted Gewertz.

Tall Drink Hanover (McCarthy) completed a sweep for Captaintreacheous offspring for sophomore pacers by winning handily in 1:51.4. Key West (Tetrick) was second. Alagna trains both horses and owns the winner as Alagna Racing along with Marvin Katz and Riverview Racing (Stephanie & Myron Bell).

Western Joe paced :26.1 in the last quarter-mile en route to a 1:50.1 victory in his third qualifier of the year. He tracked Shnitzledosomethin (Tetrick) throughout and roared past that rival after Zeron roused him in the stretch. Chris Choate trains the 2018 Sam McKee Memorial winner for Anthony Ruggeri and Joe Tosies.