by Karen Briggs, WEG media

Campbellville, ON — Benefitting from a blistering pace set by heavily-favored Southwind Tempo and Hana Hanover, Tidewaterdragonfly and driver Ron Pierce notched an upset in Saturday’s (August 25) C$718,600 Fan Hanover Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack.

The featured event for the best 3-year-old pacing fillies on the continent appeared to be a one-horse race, as Southwind Tempo, a winner in 13 of 15 starts this year, including last week’s elimination, was hammered down to 2-5 by the betting public.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Trainer Kelly O’Donnell congratulates driver Ron Pierce after Tidewaterdragonfly’s win in the Fan Hanover at Mohawk.

However, a nightmare unfolded for the favorite. With Tim Tetrick at the controls, Southwind Tempo took charge after an opening quarter in :27 but was immediately challenged by Hana Hanover and driver George Brennan. The two starlets proceeded to duke it out for the next half-mile, and Tetrick would not let Brennan go, as they raced through a half in :54.2, with the three-quarters reached in a sizzling 1:21.3.

That was all Pierce needed. With the favorite softened up considerably for the long stretch haul at Mohawk, Tidewaterdragonfly, who had left from the rail, buzzed up to the leader in mid-stretch and flew by to score by three-quarters of a length over a closing Me And My Baby, getting the mile in a career best 1:50.4. Southwind Tempo hung on gamely for third, 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner.

It was the third win in nine starts this year for the daughter of Dragon Again. Trained by Kelly O’Donnell, Tidewaterdragonfly had been knocking at the door in her last six starts, but just hadn’t been able to get the job done. She was a closing third to Hana Hanover and Southwind Tempo in the Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands on August 4, then was second to Southwind Tempo last week in the elim.

“She’s been getting better and better,” said Pierce. “Every time I’ve driven her she’s been coming from right field. The leaders had always had a big head start on her. But she’s been getting a little closer to them every week and tonight I kind of figured with the inside and the way the race shaped up, we’d be in a good spot to catch that other filly. She rose to the occasion and caught her.

“I’m really happy for Kelly O’Donnell. We had a lot of fun with (sire) Dragon Again. But this is the first major stakes race I’ve won for Kelly since.

“I was really happy about the way the race was going. I knew I was in a prime spot. About the three-eighths, I knew it was working out great. When I saw Tim wouldn’t let George go, it just played into my hands. It was a very good mile for the condition of the track, the wind and the cool air.”

It was the second win for Pierce in the prestigious Fan Hanover, which has been won by such illustrious fillies as She’s A Great Lady, Eternal Camnation and the Pierce-driven Rainbow Blue in 2004.

Sent postward the 7-2 second choice, Tidewaterdragonfly earned C$359,300 for the biggest win of her career, returning $9.50 for the victory and combining with 72-1 longshot Me And My Baby, driven by John Campbell, for a $573.50 exactor. A 1-6-3 (Southwind Tempo) triactor fashioned a $1,369.80 payoff.