by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Horses and drivers from The Netherlands were triumphant in the German Filly Derby and the Filly Consolation on Saturday afternoon (July 31) at the three-quarter-mile track Mariendorf in Berlin.

Anky Kievitshof, driven by Robin Bakker, went to post as the 7-10 favorite in the Filly Derby. It looked to be a piece of cake for the handsome daughter of Abano AS to fullfil the expectations, but a late charge from Indikid (sired by Credit Winner) forced Bakker to go all out to bring Anky Kievitshof first past the post to win by a half-length. The purse for the winner was $19,500.

Anky Kievitshof was sold as a yearling for $8,000. She didn’t show much as a 2-year-old, as she was winless in two races. This year she has developed into a top class filly and the win Saturday was number four from eight races this year. She now has total earnings of $55,000, which is very good for a German 3-year-old trotter.

The consolation was won by a Dutch-owned, trained and driven filly, too. Hugo Langeweg, Jr. was behind Lady Maud, who was a very easy winner by three lengths. She got $10,000 for the win, which was her first from six races.

Lady Maud was a $14,000 yearling. She is a daughter of the top French sire Ganymede.