Hannelore Hanover returns in style
April 21, 2018,by The Meadowlands Media Relations Department
East Rutherford, NJ — The morning qualifiers began on Saturday (April 21) at 10 a.m. at The Meadowlands on a lovely, clear morning with temperatures in the 50s and just a slight stretch headwind.
The 2017 Horse of the Year, Hannelore Hanover, made her first appearance of the new season in the sixth qualifying race and she clearly looked ready to defend her crown. Sent right to the lead from post seven by Yannick Gingras the now 6-year-old daughter of Swan For All led at every call and closed the 1:53.2 mile with a :26.4 final quarter into a moderate stretch headwind. Tuonoblu Rex (Andy Miller) went well and stuck right with her in the pocket throughout to be a good second after an eight-month absence.
Derick Giwner photo
Hannelore Hanover cruises in her first qualifying appearance this season.
Ron Burke trains Hannelore Hanover for himself as Burke Racing along with Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva Stable. She is scheduled to make her first start of 2018 in the upcoming Cutler Memorial on May 5.
Things got underway with the sophomore daughter of Donato Hanover, What A Knockout, taking the first with Marcus Melander driving in 1:56.2 for owners Our Horse Cents Stable and J&T Silva.
The second qualifying race saw the Chapter Seven filly Seven Karats (Scott Zeron) convert a pocket ride in a 1:57 with a :28.4 final quarter The winner is trained by Linda Toscano for Ken Jacobs. Lima Novelty (Corey Callahan), also from the Toscano barn, was second.
Don (Andy Miller) took the first of the 3-year-old colt trots in 1:56 with a :28.3 last quarter after converting a perfect pocket ride behind Maxus (Yannick Gingras). The New York-bred son of Credit Winner is trained by Julie Miller for the home team Andy Miller Stable and Little E, LLC. New York Sire Stakes final winner Six Pack (Ake Svanstedt) had good late trot to be third.
Svanstedt steered Gemologist to an impressive 1:57 mile with a :28.2 final quarter to win in the fourth qualifying race. After leaving for the front early, Gemologist was reserved to let U Need Stones (Gingras) take over as they passed the half in 1:00.1, then edged by that game rival under minimal urging for the win. Helpisontheway (Tim Tetrick) was sneaky good late to be third. Lennart Agren’s SRF Stable owns the winner, a Cantab Hall colt.
Don’t Press Send (Andy McCarthy) looked sharp this morning, setting all the fractions and winning well in hand in a 1:57.2 mile with a :29 final quarter. Eurobound (Domenico Cecere) closing nicely to be second. The winner is a Chapter Seven colt trained by Lucas Wallin for Reima Antero Kuisla.
Crazy Wow (David Miller) also got back to work with a solid front end effort in 1:54.2. He held the pocket-sitter, Caprice Hill (Gingras), at bay late to win. He is another Burke barn double-millionaire who also has a full slate of stakes on his docket starting with the Cutler. Our Horse Cents, Stable 45, Silva and Deo Volente own the winner.
Pacing races commenced with the eighth qualifier when the 3-year-old filly Betterthanbrie won by a widening five-length margin. She led early for driver Josert Fonseca, yielded by the :57 half and then roared by to end the 1:52.3 mile with a :28 final quarter. The Betterthancheddar lass hails from the Jimmy Takter barn and is a homebred owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding and Goran Anderberg.
Babes Dig Me was sharp in his first go of the new year with an off the pace score for Brett Miller in 1:52.3 off hot fractions. He surged to the lead mid-stretch then held off This Is The Plan (Tetrick) in the final strides of the :29 last quarter. Tony Alagna trains the Somebeachsomewhere colt for Brad Grant, Joe Sbrocco, Rob LeBlanc along with John Fodera and Steve Wienick racing as In The Gym Partners.
Sophomore Somebeachsomewhere colt Decoy (D. Miller) was really impressive with a come from behind 1:51.2 win with a :27.4 final quarter over the 4-year-old Boogie Shuffle (A. Miller). Seeing Eye Single (Gingras) also went well in here.
It was a strong field of 3-year-old colt pacers assembled for the 11th and Captain Deo (Brett Miller) threaded through them late to get the 1:53 win with a :28 last quarter mile. Dorsoduro Hanover (Gingras) gave way grudgingly late after cutting the mile and Major Authority (Jason Bartlett) held for third. Tony Alagna trains him as well for Alagna Racing, Sbrocco, In The Gym and Captain Deo Partners.
A powerful group of older pacers teed it up in the 12th and final contest of the day resulting in the fastest mile (1:50.4) recorded by Blood Line who was afforded a perfect trip by Brett Miller. He pounced on mile-cutter Blue Moon Stride (Callahan) as they turned for home and edged away with a :27.2 final panel. Filibuster Hanover (Gingras) closed to be second. Takter trains the winner for Diamond Creek Racing.
Live pari-mutuel racing tonight at 7:15 p.m.
- Hannelore Hanover set for 2018 debut (Thursday, April 19, 2018)
Hannelore Hanover is ready to get back on the racetrack and trainer Ron Burke thinks harness racing’s defending Horse of the Year is entering her upcoming campaign feeling as good as she did at the end of last season. And that was pretty darn good. The 6-year-old female trotter closed 2017 with a three-race win streak that included the Breeders Crown Open Trot and the lady’s division of the TVG Series championships. Two weeks prior to beginning her streak, Hannelore Hanover recorded the fastest mile in history by a female trotter when she captured the Allerage Farms Open Trot in 1:49.2.
- Cecere looks for big year with ‘Team Lindy’ (Monday, April 23, 2018)
Domenico Cecere might be a new name in the program, but he is a familiar face when it comes to Lindy Farms and its racehorses. Cecere, a 36-year-old native of Italy, is beginning his 11th year as a member of “Team Lindy” while starting his first full season succeeding Frank M. Antonacci as the organization’s trainer.