by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications
East Rutherford, NJ — Pasithea Face S and Tim Tetrick won the $176,250 Dr. John Steele Memorial for trotting mares in 1:51.2 by two lengths for her first U.S. win on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.
Emoticom Hanover (Daniel Dube) got to the lead first in a time of :27.3 for the first quarter but was soon overtaken by Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras), who had the lead at the :54.4 half, before Pasithea Face S came up to challenge at about the five-eighths mile mark. Those two trotted together around the final turn and in to the stretch, with Emoticom Hanover looking to squeeze up the rail.
Pasithea Face S trotted on to the wire with mild urging for the win by two lengths. Caprice Hill got up for second and Emoticom Hanover was third.
“This horse is really strong,” said Anders Strom, who races the 5-year-old mare under his stable name of Courant, Inc. “I thought she would do great by the mile track and so did her trainer, Lutfi Kolgini in Sweden. We are friends with Jimmy (trainer Takter), so of course this is a great option to come over and try to get a big record for her before she goes to the breeding barn.”
Pasithea Face S races in the red and gold silks of her owner, designed for a simple reason, said Strom, “It’s because my mom can’t really find my horses in the race, so that’s why we wear this color for the horse.
“I got to drive her two weeks ago (in a second place finish in the Miss Versatility) and I just loved her,” said Tetrick. “It was her first start here and thought we’d go nice and easy with her and she trotted strong to the wire. She did her job today. Hannelore Hanover was the one to beat today. She didn’t have the best day, but take nothing away from my mare, she was awesome.”
Jimmy Takter trains the winner for owners Courant Inc.
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