from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Ella Fitz Hanover ($2.80, $2.40) held off her entrymate, Spring Art, for a neck victory in the second race, the first of two $47,000 divisions of the Debutante Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday night at the Meadowlands.

The Historic Grand Circuit week at the Meadowlands opened with a quartet of stakes for two-year-old fillies — the Debutante for pacers and the Acorn for trotters.

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Ella Fitz Hanover, a daughter of Cam’s Card Shark, paced her mile in 1:55⁴.

Ella Fitz Hanover, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by George Teague, Jr., now has two wins in pari-mutuel races and two wins in baby races for a perfect record. The daughter of Cam’s Card Shark paced her mile in 1:55⁴, lifting her bankroll to $43,875 for Teague Inc. of Houston, Delaware.

Crystal Slipper was third by a length and three-quarters. There was no show wagering.

Ambootia ($2.40, $2.10) rejected Ideal Party’s challenge at the three-quarter pole and held on for a three-quarter length victory over Sweet Repeat ($3.40) in the fifth race, the second Debutante division. Hank’s Girl was third by three lengths. Again, there was no show wagering.

Ambootia, driven by David Miller and trained by Joe Holloway, won her pari-mutuel debut in 1:58 flat. The daughter of Jenna’s Beach Boy had two wins and a second in her three baby race preps. She earned $23,500 for the partnership of Joe Holloway, Hill View Enterprises and TH Stable.

Motivational and Jersey Gal captured the $58,500 Acorn Stake divisions, carded as the third and fourth races.

Motivational ($8.20, $4.60, $4.20), driven by George Brennan, was a gate-to-wire winner in 1:59³, finishing a length and a half ahead of Four Starz DLH ($3.60, $3.00). It was seven and a half lengths to Ferrari OF ($7.20) in third.

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Motivational was a gate-to-wire winner in a division of the Acorn Stakes.

Owned and trained by Kathleen LaMontagne of Wall, New Jersey, Motivational is a daughter of Muscles Yankee. She now has a win and a second in two pari-mutuel starts after posting wins in both of her baby races.

Jersey Gal ($3.60, $2.40, $2.40) trotted to a two and a half length victory over Twin B Senorita ($3.00, $3.40) in 1:58¹. It was eight and a half lengths to Pull Your Chain ($6.40) in third.

Jersey Gal, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Kevin Lare, races for Harness The Power of Viola Delaware, and William B. Venables, Jr. and Jean L. Venables, both of Laurel, Delaware. The daughter of Malabar Man was making her pari-mutuel debut after a second and a first in baby races.