by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY —She has only contested six race miles in her young career, yet 2-year-old Barham Hanover is already quite professional.

“She’s been tough at times, with nervousness and such, but I just gave her some time,” explained Dan Altmeyer, a resident of Washington, Pa., who conditions and co-owns the filly. “She’s mellowed out and came around quite nicely.”

The biggest test of Barham Hanover’s career comes in this Sunday’s $450,000 Goldsmith Maid at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack. She has drawn the rail in the eight-horse field, which is slated as the eighth race on the afternoon program.

The PA-bred daughter of Cantab Hall and Bar Queen has earned $112,391, possesses mark of 1:57f and has reeled off five straight triumphs since a fourth place finish behind Fashion Feline in her career debut in a Reynolds Memorial division on July 10. The bay filly with a white star was purchased for $15,000 from last November’s Harrisburg Sale by Altmeyer, Heather Wilder, Richard Kelson, and Jack Piatt II.

Scott Cantor photo

Barham Hanover (on the outside) nosed out Fashion Feline in their Goldsmith Maid elimination.

On July 19, Barham Hanover broke her maiden in a $52,184 Pennsylvania Sire Stake at Harrah’s Chester. The filly then won a $20,000 division of the Arden Downs Stake on July 27 at The Meadows, trotted her fastest time to date on August 11 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in a $64,430 Pennsylvania Sire Stake, annexed a $63,980 Pennsylvania Sire Stake at The Meadows and captured her $20,000 Goldsmith Maid elimination at Harrah’s Chester on August 30 when she defeated Fashion Feline by a nose.

There were two main reasons Altmeyer chose to bid on Barham Hanover.

“She has a good family and she is well-made,” he said.

Shortly after the filly began training down, her trainer realized she had some ability and thought she could develop into a nice race horse.

“I did (have expectations) for her,” Altmeyer, who has trained the winners of more than $8.8 million in career purse money, said. “She showed me right away that she was very talented.”

There is only one word to describe how the filly drives, trains and behaves in the barn.

“Perfect,” her trainer said.

Although he acknowledges the competition is definitely stiff, Altmeyer would not trade positions with anyone heading into the $450,000 Goldsmith Maid Final on September 6.

“It’s a tough race with a lot of nice fillies in there, but I think my filly is pretty nice too,” he said.

Barham Hanover is not heavily staked for the rest of her freshman campaign, but could be very busy in 2009.

“She’s mostly in for Pennsylvania and Lexington this year, though she has quite a bit next year,” Altmeyer told Evan Pattak at The Meadows last month. “I gave only $15,000 for her, and I’m one who believes it’s kind of crazy to spend $15,000 in stake payments when you paid only $15,000 for the horse. She is the best trotting filly I have ever trained.”

Following is the field for Sunday’s $450,000 Goldsmith Maid at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Barham Hanover, Mike Wilder, Dan Altmeyer; 2. Action-Broadway, Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan, Jr.; 3. Bar Slide, David Miller, Joe Holloway; 4. Lindy’s Two Step, John Campbell, Linda Toscano; 5. In The Mean Time, Michel Lachance, Chuck Sylvester; 6. Spicy Wings, Brian Sears, Ross Croghan; 7. Costa Rica, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter; 8. Fashion Feline, Dave Palone, Jim Campbell.

Owners: 1. Dan Altmeyer, Heather Wilder, Richard Kelson, Jack Piatt II; 2. Kenneth Sommer; 3. Fredericka Caldwell, Bluestone Farms; 4. Martin Sternberg, Alvin Katz; 5. Herb Liverman, David McDuffee; 6. Let It Ride Stables, Mentally Stable Inc., Jerry Silva; 7. Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding; 8. Fashion Farms.