by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Anndrovette is among a group of five female pacers to win the Roses Are Red Stakes in back-to-back years. With a third victory in the race on Saturday, she would stand alone.

A 7-year-old mare, Anndrovette is the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday’s C$330,000 Roses Are Red Stakes for older female pacers at Mohawk Racetrack. She starts from post four with regular driver Tim Tetrick at the lines for trainer P.J. Fraley.

Anndrovette, who won last year’s Roses Are Red in a stakes-record 1:48, heads into this season’s final off a 1:49.3 triumph in her elimination on June 7. She defeated Summertime Lea by one-quarter length thanks to a :26 burst over the race’s last quarter-mile.

World Wide Racing Photos

Anndrovette won the $250,000 Betsy Ross on May 25 by two lengths over Rocklamation in 1:50.2.

It was Anndrovette’s second consecutive win after posting one victory in her first six starts. For the year, Anndrovette has won three of eight races, including the Betsy Ross Stakes on May 25, and earned $210,637 for owners Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino. She has 38 lifetime victories in 96 starts and $2.79 million.

“She’s come back around,” Tetrick said. “She qualified good (on May 16) and raced super in the Betsy Ross. I don’t think she was sharp earlier in the year. She just didn’t have her usual attitude. They gave her a little break and something clicked. I could tell in the post parade (of the Betsy Ross) that she was ready to go.”

Joining Anndrovette on the list of mares to win consecutive Roses Are Red Stakes are Armbro Feather (1988-89), Ellamony (1994-95), Eternal Camnation (2001-02), and Bunny Lake (2003-04).

Anndrovette is trying for her record fourth straight Dan Patch Award for best older female pacer. She is one of three three-time honorees, along with Eternal Camnation and Shady Daisy.

Somwherovrarainbow, who earlier this year became the fastest female pacer ever on a five-eighths-mile track (1:48 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs) and won the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers, is the 7-2 second choice in the Roses Are Red. In her Roses Are Red elim, Somwherovrarainbow finished second by a half-length to Yagonnakissmeornot in 1:50.1. Yagonnakissmeornot is the 4-1 third choice.

“There are some very good mares in there,” Tetrick said. “But (Anndrovette) seems like she’s back and charging now. She likes the Canadian air.”

Following is the Roses Are Red field in post order with drivers, trainers, and morning line: 1. Yagonnakissmeornot, Ron Pierce, Carmen Auciello, 4-1; 2. Shelliscape, Corey Callahan, P.J. Fraley, 12-1; 3. Charisma Hanover, Sylvain Filion, Ron Burke, 10-1; 4. Anndrovette, Tim Tetrick, P.J. Fraley, 5-2; 5. Camille, Brett Miller, Ron Burke, 10-1; 6. Summertime Lea, Scott Zeron, Ron Burke, 8-1; 7. Krispy Apple, Doug McNair, P.J. Fraley, 12-1; 8. Shebestingin, David Miller, Joe Holloway, 8-1; 9. Somwherovrarainbow, Brian Sears, Joe Holloway, 7-2; 10. Rocklamation, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 15-1.