by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Delaware, OH — It was child’s play for Ella Christina, who went to the lead at the start and was never caught in winning Wednesday’s (Sept. 21) $49,200 Standardbred Stakes for 2-year-old female pacers by a neck over Caviart Cherie in 1:54.3 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Ella Christina led every step of the 1:54.3 mile to win the Standardbred 2-year-old filly pace.

Named after the daughter of winning owner/trainer Nancy Johansson and her husband Marcus, Ella Christina led the field to the opening quarter in :27.4 before getting a :30-second breather in the second quarter. Pittstop Danika made a first-over bid from fourth place, getting within a half-length of Ella Christina as they hit three-quarters in 1:26.1, but was unable to sustain her momentum around the final turn.

Caviart Cherie, who raced behind Ella Christina until the stretch, angled out late for a final surge, but Ella Christina got to the wire in front. Kim’s Desire finished third and Pittstop Danika was fourth.

“She raced great,” winning driver David Miller said about the 3-2 favorite. “She fits this track real good; she’s a real handy horse. We got off the gate and I was able to rate her and she had plenty left. She’s just an all-around nice horse.

“(Caviart Cherie) was a little bit closer than I wanted, but we held in there.”

Ella Christina is a daughter of stallion Western Ideal out of the mare Arthroscopic. She was purchased for $9,000 under the name Anita Hanover at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale.

She has won two of seven races and earned $48,067.

“I was pushing on her a little bit (at the very end of the mile),” added Miller. “I heard another horse coming behind me and although she felt really strong going into the last turn I had to get into her a little bit. That’s what they pay me to do — to get them across the line. There are very few horses you can just sit there with, without giving them a little push or reminder.

“I don’t think she had ever been on the front before so I kept her reminded of where she was supposed to be. On a half-mile track like this, since there is no passing line, if you are capable of it you want to control the race as much as you can.”

— Kim French also contributed to this report