by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — After heeding some advice and watching her sales video, Robert Krivelin was thrilled to purchase Upside Hanover for $18,000, but his elation immediately transformed into an emotion akin to fear the first time he laid eyes on her.

“I bought her as a yearling at last year’s Harrisburg Sale,” he explained. “John McDermott picked her out, I knew the mare she was out of and we loved her video as she was very athletic-looking. I didn’t actually see her until she was shipped to me after the sale and when she got off the truck, I said, ‘Please tell me that’s not my horse’ because I thought her conformation was a little bit questionable, but I’m certainly not an expert in that area and that’s why I have people like Jim Doherty, Ronnie Gurfein and John pick my horses out for me. She’s actually been terrific and we just love her.”

Upside Hanover, a daughter of Muscles Yankee and Up Front Laura, is also conditioned by Krivelin and from five career starts has a slate of 1-2-1 with a bankroll of $139,824 and a mark of 1:57.4. The filly is the first foal out of her dam, who is a half-sister to Mo Monet Hanover (Balanced Image, $329,990) and Show Me The Monet (Self Possessed, $324,607).

Lisa photo

Upside Hanover was a 1:57.4 winner in the NJSS final on July 16 at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Upside Hanover was victorious in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at the Meadowlands on July 16, second in her $20,000 Merrie Annabelle elimination at the same locale on July 29 and third in the $333,200 Merrie Annabelle final on August 6.

After being idle for nearly the entire month of August, Upside Hanover faces five rivals in a $36,550 Historic-Acorn division at Vernon Downs on Friday evening (September 2). She will leave from post position five in rein to Brian Sears in the first race on the card.

“She will probably be a little short as she hasn’t raced in a month but we have trained her,” Krivelin, who resides in Goshen, N.Y., said. “We know she has speed, it’s just a matter of endurance after being laid off for nearly a month.”

Shortly after he hooked her up to the jog cart for the first time, Krivelin realized this filly could possess some ability.

“I usually break all my own horses and I broke her,” the wholesale food distribution owner said. “She tried to kick me out of the jog cart, so I took that as a good sign, because it meant she had spirit. She’s tried to kick me out several times since then including right before the Merrie Annabelle, but I’m aware of it now. She’s actually very calm in the paddock and very professional on the racetrack.

“She’s a doll around the barn,” Krivelin continued. “She just hangs out and is a very content, relaxed horse. Most of the fillies I’ve had in the past have been kind of nervous, especially on the track, but she is just so nice anywhere she is.”

While her behavior has certainly contributed to her success, Upside Hanover’s physical prowess is another reason she has performed so well.

“The top drivers in the world, (Ron) Pierce, (Brian) Sears and (Tim) Tetrick, have driven her and they have all told me she gets a little hot warming up, but during the race she is perfect,” Krivelin said. “She can leave, come from behind and has great speed, but she is still green. Sometimes she drops the bit a little, but she’s still just learning.

“I think her greatest advantage is her power,” he continued. “She is so athletic and is like a Ferrari. She is all muscled up, looks like a colt and doesn’t even look like a 2-year-old. She’s got that big butt on her like Somebeachsomewhere. I can’t compare her to a pacer though and right now it looks like Ray Schnittker’s horse (Check Me Out) is the one for us to beat and nothing against her, but she still looks like a filly.”

After Friday night’s contest, Upside Hanover is scheduled to appear at The Red Mile before traveling to Woodbine for the Breeders Crown.

“All this is a lead up to the Breeders Crown,” said Krivelin, who finished second piloting his own filly Rapid Rail in the 2003 Hambletonian Oaks. “We are going to bring her down to Lexington for some late closers which fortunately she is eligible for and I’m going to drive her. That has been the goal the whole year long, well that and the Merrie Annabelle, because I don’t stake my 2-year-olds as I don’t race them all that much, but being that she is a February foal and so strong I took a shot with her.

“I gave her this last month off so we can go into the Breeders Crown fresh, which I think is an advantage because Ray’s horse has had some tough races and my horse will be rested with some easy starts.

“If she’s good to drive, which I will know after driving her myself in Lexington — and which I think she is — and if she stays sound, she will be staked to everything next year and I will drive her myself in the Oaks.”

The Historic-Acorn will be contested in two divisions on Friday night at Vernon Downs. Below are the fields.

$36,550 Historic-Acorn Stake-1st division
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Aldebaran Malibu-David Miller-Jonas Czernyson
2-Donatoprincess-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Tony Alagna
3-Ava Marion-TBA-Robert Bencal
4-Southwind Moni-John Campbell-Scott Andrews
5-Upside Hanover-Brian Sears-Robert Krivelin
6-Lindy`s Madonna-Frank Antonacci-Frank Antonacci

$36,050 Historic-Acorn Stake-2nd division
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Can’t Have My Moni-Tim Tetrick-Frank Antonacci
2-She’s All In-Rick Plano-Rick Plano
3-Cowgirl Hall-Gates Brunet-Gates Brunet
4-Pittypat Hanover-Jim Morrill, Jr.-R. Nifty Norman
5-Mrs D-Jimmy Whittemore-Homer Hochstetler