by Lou Monaco, for the Hambletonian Society

East Rutherford, NJ — The 1-2 favorite Manchego added another win to her resume, winning by 2-1/4 lengths over a closing Phaetosive, to capture the 35th edition of the $330,800 Jim Doherty Memorial final for 2-year-old trotting fillies in the fifth race on Saturday (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Manchego remains a perfect five-for-five with her win in the Jim Doherty Memorial.

It was trainer Jimmy Takter’s third win on the day and Manchego, driven by Yannick Gingras, improved her lifetime record to five straight wins in as many starts.

It was Gingras’ second straight win on the card and second Doherty win of his career, having won his first with Mission Brief in 2014.

Manchego, a daughter of Muscle Hill, took control just prior to the half-mile mark and came home with a lifetime-best time of 1:52.4. She paid $3.00, $2.10, and $2.10 to her backers.

Phaetosive, trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer, paid $2.60 and $2.20 for second.

Lily Stride with Tim Tetrick at the lines, was third by six and a half lengths, paying $3.00.

Vivacious Allie with David Miller driving finished fourth.

“She is a really special girl. We liked her from the get go and she keeps developing and certainly has a very effective way of going and has a tremendous inner-strength that few horses have,” said Takter, who recorded his fifth win in the Doherty, formerly named the Merrie Annabelle.