East Windsor, NJ – Horses are named long before their careers commence, but on occasion humans hit the bullseye and Aperfect Annie’s team threw the perfect dart. The filly will take on nine rivals on Saturday (Aug. 2) at The Meadowlands in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and demonstrate her prowess.
“She is just so laid back,” said trainer/co-owner Carter Pinske. “She makes me look good as a trainer.”
The sophomore daughter of Googoo Gaagaa-Asixpakfromperfect (Todd McCarthy) will leave from post position seven in Saturday’s classic event for her age, gait and division. The filly is 20-1 on the morning line after finishing third in her $50,000 Hambletonian Oaks elimination behind favored Conversano (Andrew McCarthy) and R Charm (Scott Zeron).
“She may not have the ability to sprint, but she is a grinder, and she always shows up,” Pinske said. “We always have confidence in her.”
Aperfect Annie is the 10th foal from her dam and the fourth of that mare’s offspring to earn more than $100,000 in purse money. She is a half-sibling to 2012 Peter Haughton Memorial victor Aperfectyankee ($588,369), A Perfect Gem ($192,986) and A Perfect Helen ($187,530).
The filly was selected by Pinske, Melvin Hartman and Andray Farm for $70,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She was bred by Robert Detweiler.
After collecting $387,860, with a resume of 14-5-4-1 including a state championship and a berth in the Hambletonian Oaks, it appears that check returned a significant return on its investment.
“I think maybe the mare (Asixpakfromperfect) was a little older and she had not thrown a really big-name horse,” Pinske said. “But this filly comes from a very solid family, and we were pleased to get her.”
And rightly so.
Aperfect Annie finished second in her first two Kentucky Sire Stakes events at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel in July of last year. The filly, however, broke her maiden in style after a change of scenery in the Kentucky Championship Series at The Red Mile.
She upset the previously undefeated Kentucky Sire Stakes competitor, Yo Tillie, by a neck on Aug. 12, 2024, and came home first over that foe in the $400,000 Championship Series Final on Sept. 15.
Aperfect Annie kicked off 2025 with two triumphs at the aforementioned Oak Grove prior to an eighth-placed-seventh finish in the $141,000 Delvin Miller Memorial at The Meadowlands on July 12.
“We found out she was sick and maybe may have bled a little, so we treated her,” Pinske said. “She was much better in the Oaks elimination, and we think after working on her she will be sitting on a big mile for the final.
“It’s also nice to be a little under the radar coming into the race. It takes some of the pressure off.”
If Aperfect Annie hits the line in front, it would be the first Hambletonian Oaks trophy for her trainer, who also has Go Dog Go in the $1 million Hambletonian, starting from post position 10. The son of Greenshoe-Primary Target is 10-1 on the morning line.
Pinske is no stranger to Grand Circuit triumphs with fillies as he conditioned 2023 Kentucky Futurity Filly winner Mommamia Volo and was co-owner on dual Breeders Crown victor Amigo Volo, who also captured the 2020 Kentucky Futurity.
“We are just pleased for the opportunity,” Pinske said. “All you can do is get them ready and place them in the race. The horses do all the rest.”
The Hambletonian Oaks will be shown live on FOX Sports and is the 10th race on a stakes-laden card with a post time of 3:37 p.m. (EDT). FOX Sports will broadcast from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (EDT).
For free program information please click here.
Field for Hambletonian Oaks
PP – HORSE – DRIVER – TRAINER – ODDS
1 – Miss Belmar – Andy McCarthy – Noel Daley – 5-2
2 – Deja Blu – Yannick Gingras – Nancy Takter – 5-1
3 – Sound Judgement – Kevin Oscarsson – Jim Oscarsson – 20-1
4 – R Charm – Dave Miller – Linda Toscano – 10-1
5 – Delaney Hanover – Scott Zeron – Lucas Wallin – 3-1
6 – Conversano – James MacDonald – Juan Cano – 9-2
7 – Aperfect Annie – Todd McCarthy – Carter Pinske – 20-1
8 – Walspea – Trond Smedshammer – Trond Smedshammer – 12-1
9 – Champagne Problems – Dexter Dunn – Nancy Takter – 6-1
10 – Torrisi – Tim Tetrick – Nancy Takter – 20-1