by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

East Rutherford, NJ — Ace Of Pace and Lionness Hanover scored back-to-back victories in 1:53 on Friday (July 9) at Meadowlands Racetrack to become the fastest 2-year-old pacing fillies in the history of the New Jersey Sire Stakes program.

Lisa photo

Ace Of Pace and George Brennan won the first division and set the NJSS record of 1:53 for a juvenile pacing filly.

In the first of two $29,000 NJSS divisions, Ace Of Pace, a daughter of Cam’s Card Shark-Whatsupcuz, swept to the lead down the backstretch to win in record time for the Belle Amore Stable, driver George Brennan and trainer Mark Ford. It was the filly’s second win in as many starts.

The 1:53 clocking erased the previous record of 1:53.1 that was set in 1991 by Emory Girl and matched in 1999 by Ladyjack.

Lionness Hanover (Western Ideal-Ladyking) took control at the three-quarter-mile mark and pulled away to win the second division. Her 1:53 winning time equaled the new record set one race earlier by Ace Of Pace.

It was the first career victory for the filly, driven by Andy Miller and trained by Steve Elliott for co-owners Carter Racing Stable, Martha Frank and Elliott.

These winners will be among the top 10 point earners competing in the $200,000 NJSS Championship Final on July 17 at the Meadowlands.