by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Lexington, KY — The second week of Grand Circuit racing got underway on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 4) at The Red Mile with three divisions in the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters.

Nigel Soult photo

Fashion Athena won the first division of the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters in 1:53.2, a national season’s mark.

Fashion Athena and driver Brian Sears made a methodical move to the lead during the first half of the race and held off favorite Time To Kill in the stretch to win Thursday’s $98,100 first division in a time of 1:53.2, the fastest of the year by a 2-year-old filly trotter. She paid $6.00 to win.

Ma Chere Hall was the race’s early leader, bringing the field to the opening quarter in :27.4. Sears had Fashion Athena positioned outside and followed Shared Past to the front as the group reached the half-mile point in :55.2.

From there, Fashion Athena led the rest of the way. Time To Kill and driver John Campbell made a late challenge from midpack as the field turned for home, but fell three-quarters of a length shy of the winner. Shared Past finished third.

“That was Brian,” owner/breeder Jules Siegel said. “I told him before that this was the best 2-year-old trotting filly that we’ve got, but you’ve got to give her her head and whatever she wants to do she’s going to show you.

“She has shown her true colors. She’s a good Broadway Hall and she’s got a lot more in front of her.”

Bred and owned by Siegel’s Fashion Farms, and trained by Jim Campbell, Fashion Athena (Broadway Hall-Athena Hanover) has won five of 10 races this year and earned $213,541. Fashion Athena’s dam, Athena Hanover, was the 2007 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 2-year-old filly champion.

Nigel Soult photo

To Dream On captured the second division in 1:53.2, equaling the national season’s mark set earlier by Fashion Athena.

To Dream On continued her winning ways Thursday, capturing the $98,100 second division of the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters by more than two lengths over 44-1 longshot Cupcake in 1:53.2, which equaled the national season’s mark set earlier in the day by Fashion Athena.

Sent off as the 1-5 favorite, To Dream On sat in third place as driver Brian Sears and Coffeecake Hanover led the field to the halfway point in :56.1. Yannick Gingras sent To Dream On to the front just after the half and faced a challenge from Handover Belle in the stretch, but Handover Belle stumbled and went off stride and finished third.

“I could have sat all day (before moving to the front),” Gingras said. “She was nice and relaxed. Brian was putting up some decent fractions, so I’m sure that helped a little bit. But even behind the gate today I had no problem at all.

“Halfway down the stretch, I thought maybe (Handover Belle) had me, but after that my filly was digging in a little bit,” Gingras added about the stretch drive. “I mean, it’s tight, but I thought I had it.”

The win was the seventh in eight races this year for To Dream On, who is a neck from being undefeated. The Credit Winner-Satin Pillows filly has earned $427,320 for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld and trainer Jimmy Takter.

To Dream On paid $2.40 to win.

Nigel Soult photo

Mistery Woman held off Frau Blucher in 1:53.3 to win the third division.

Mistery Woman took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off favorite Frau Blucher by a length at the wire in 1:53.3 to win the $97,100 third division. Aspidistra Hanover finished third.

With Sugar and driver Tim Tetrick led the field to the first quarter in :28, with Aspidistra Hanover in second, Miss Steele in third and Mistery Woman in fourth. Aspidistra Hanover took the lead prior to the half-mile point, which was reached in :55.3, but was unable to hold off David Miller and Mistery Woman as the fillies came off the final turn.

Mistery Woman, sent off at 9-5 odds, paid $5.80 to win.

“They were moving along pretty good there,” Miller said. “Ever since her first start — she was a little too hot — we’ve been working on keeping her quiet and it’s been working well that way. Now she’s pretty quiet behind the gate and she’ll relax in a hole. When I call on her, she’s been going forward.”

Mistery Woman (Donato Hanover-My Dolly’s Dream) is owned by Misty Miller, who is David Miller’s wife, W.J. Donovan, Aldebaran Park Inc. and Millstream Inc. She has won three of four races this year and earned $88,177. She is trained by Jonas Czernyson.

“You wouldn’t think so, but there is (added pressure driving for my wife),” David Miller said, laughing. “I just want to do good for them.”

Mistery Woman got her campaign off to a late start because of a foot problem and illness, which set her training back by about six weeks.

“She’s been doing great so far,” David Miller said. “We’re very pleased with her. She’s done more than we thought she would.”