by Ken Weingartner and Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Costa Rica, who earned nearly $1 million last season as a 2-year-old and was second to Poof She’s Gone for divisional honors, was made the 8-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s (July 10) $299,050 Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers Raceway.

Costa Rica, who was second to Spicy Wings in her Hudson elim last weekend, drew post No. 1 and will be driven by Ron Pierce for trainer Jimmy Takter.

Her wins last season included the Goldsmith Maid, Peaceful Way, New Jersey Sire Stakes championship, and Matron Stakes. She was second in the Merrie Annabelle. This year, she has one win in three starts.

“She’s very competitive, she’s a workhorse and gets it done, tries her best,” said Takter. “To make a million dollars like she has — she’s tough and you can never rule her out.

“We haven’t done much with her this week, first of all because it’s extremely hot. You have to be very careful how you manage your horses in this weather we’ve been having.

“She missed a couple starts because she had an entrapment in her throat, we had to do surgery just before the final of the N.J. Sire Stakes (on June 12), so she missed a couple starts, but she’ll step up this week and should be sharp.”

The three-horse entry of Munis Blue Chip, Spicy Wings and Religulous was made 9-5 in the morning line. Munis Blue Chip won her Hudson elim by a nose over favorite Bramalea Hanover in 1:57.2 while Spicy Wings surged past favorite Costa Rica for a half-length victory in 1:59.

Munis Blue Chip, who was purchased for $140,000 as a yearling and is a half sister to Hot Shot Blue Chip, was last year’s New York Sire Stakes champion. She has won three of seven races this season and eight of 17 in her career while earning $236,535.

Spicy Wings last year won divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion stakes and was second to Costa Rica in the Matron Stakes. Spicy Wings’ mother, Angel Fire Hanover, is a half sister to Michelle’s Angel, who finished second in the 2007 Hudson. Spicy Wings has won three of six races this year and five of 19 in her career, banking $261,849.

Bramalea Hanover, who was unraced as a 2-year-old and this season had won seven of 11 races in Canada prior to her Hudson elim, was 3-1 in the morning line.

Following is the Hudson Filly Trot field in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Costa Rica, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter; 2. Religulous, Steve Smith, Jeffrey Webster; 3. Spicy Wings, Cat Manzi, Jeffrey Webster; 4. Bramalea Hanover, David Miller, Robert McIntosh; 5. Munis Blue Chip, Ray Schnittker, Schnittker; 6. Show Your Lindys, Frode Fladen, Anthony Montini; 7. Secret Credit, Jeff Gregory, Paul Kelley; 8. Unefoisdansmavie, Stephane Bouchard, Peter Kleinhans.

Owners: 1. Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding; 2. Mentally Stable, Jerry Silva; 3. Let It Ride Stables, Mentally Stable, Jerry Silva; 4. Susan Grange; 5. Ray Schnittker, Steve Arnold, Blue Chip Bloodstock, Jerry Silva; 6. Kjell Andersen, Troy Mollohan; 7. William Weaver III, Kelley Racing Stable; 8. Peter Kleinhans Racing, AJKS Racing.