To watch a race replay of the Jugette final, click here.

Delaware, OH — Scarlett Hanover came three-wide off the final turn and chased down 2-5 favorite Test Of Faith to win Wednesday’s $152,280 final of the Jugette Stakes for 3-year-old female pacers at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio.

Scarlett Hanover won by a half-length over Test Of Faith. Conrad photo.

The time for the mile was 1:56 on a rain-soaked sloppy track. Scarlett Hanover won by a half-length over Test Of Faith, with Irish-import Oakwoodanabella finishing third.

Tim Tetrick drove Scarlett Hanover for Ron Burke, who picked up his fourth victory in the Jugette to become the race’s all-time winningest trainer, breaking a tie with Billy Haughton and Bob McIntosh. Earlier this week, Burke was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

The triumph was Tetrick’s third in the event, moving him into a second-place tie for the most by a driver. John Campbell holds the record with five.

Scarlett Hanover and Test Of Faith, who each won her Jugette elimination earlier in the day, were fourth and third, respectively, during the first half of the final. Paulas Bet Hanover, a 40-1 longshot leaving from post five, grabbed the lead and set fractions of :29 and :58.4 with 80-1 shot Nashville Elgenna sitting in second.

As the field passed the half-mile marker, Test Of Faith began a first-over march toward the front and Tetrick positioned Scarlett Hanover behind Test Of Faith’s cover for their trip up the backstretch. Test Of Faith took the lead after reaching three-quarters in 1:28 but was unable to fend off Scarlett Hanover in the stretch.

“The last half of the card, the front end was not very good at all,” said Tetrick, who won five races Wednesday. “I was wanting to get away back, and I was hoping one or two would take a shot. It worked out perfect. I got (Test Of Faith) in front of me in third and I kind of forced the issue a little bit. I wanted her to be out there even if they didn’t go fast, I wanted her to work a little bit. I went after her at the top of the lane and my mare got it done.”

Tetrick drove Scarlett Hanover for the first time on Wednesday. In her two starts prior to the Jugette, David Miller sat behind the filly. Miller is the regular driver of Test Of Faith.

Scarlett Hanover’s connections celebrate in the winner’s circle. Conrad photo.

“Earlier in the week, Ronnie asked me if I wanted to drive her, and I said absolutely,” Tetrick said. “She’s a sweetheart, just like he said she was. Today, with the weather the way it was, she showed really good both heats and we got a good trip both times.”

Scarlett Hanover won her Jugette elimination by 2-1/4 lengths over Mikala in 1:56. Scarlett Hanover was third at the half before advancing first-up on the backstretch on her way to victory.

For the year, Scarlett Hanover has won five of 11 races and $265,881. For her career, the filly has won 11 of 25 starts and $622,991. She was the 2020 O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s best 2-year-old filly pacer.

She had made seven consecutive starts in Canada, winning three Ontario Sire Stakes divisions for driver Ed Hensley and trainer Ashleigh Hensley, prior to returning to Burke’s stable in the U.S. for the Jugette.

“She trained vicious the other day,” Burke said. “I just got her back on Saturday and I trained her on Sunday there, and I couldn’t have been happier. She felt wonderful. I thought we were going to be all right here. I told Timmy, I think we can win this. Obviously, Test Of Faith is great, but (Scarlett Hanover) is really a handy little horse and you can do anything you want with her. With the (weather) conditions, it becomes anybody’s ballgame then.”

On Thursday, Burke will send out two horses in the Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old male pacers, including Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Lou’s Pearlman, who is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the first of the event’s two eliminations. Bayfield Beach is 12-1 in the second elim.

“I like my horses going into the Jug, and I think we have a chance with them,” Burke said. “I’m hoping that we can do some good there, too.”

Scarlett Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi. A daughter of Bettor’s Delight out of Sammy’s Magic Girl, she was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the Jugette final, Scarlett Hanover paid $7.80 to win.

Scarlett Hanover, Test Of Faith win Jugette eliminations

Scarlett Hanover and Test Of Faith won Wednesday’s eliminations of the Jugette Stakes.

Scarlett Hanover, with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Ron Burke, captured the first elimination in 1:56. Finishing second through fourth to also advance to the final were Mikala, Paulas Bet Hanover, and Nashville Elgenna.

Test Of Faith won the second elimination in 1:55.3, overtaking Irish-import Oakwoodanabella nearing the finish line. Smothastenesewisky was third and Odds On Whitney fourth to complete the field for the Jugette final.