by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — In her second career start, Sand Windsor performed like a speedy, determined veteran, coming first over en route to a stakes record 1:53 victory in a division of the $120,000 Catherine Baker Knoll at The Meadows on Saturday (August 1).

Formerly known as the Fred Jamison, the stake was renamed to honor the life and contributions of the late Catherine Baker Knoll, former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor and a great friend of harness racing. The inaugural edition of the Knoll was contested over six divisions, with Fancy Filly, Farouche Hanover, Tee Time, Jolene’s Delight and Hokie Spirit taking the other splits.

Trainer George Teague, Jr. and driver Brian Sears had a prolific and productive Adios Day. In a pair of 2-year-old stakes spanning 12 divisions, Teague sent out seven winners. Sears recorded a six-bagger on the card.

Chris Gooden photo

Sand Windsor set a stakes record with a 1:53 score on Saturday.

Sand Windsor won at first asking in a division of the Reynolds, and she won just as handily in the Knoll. She opened up after clearing for Brett Miller and went on to prevail by 4-1/4 lengths over Camsamericangirl. Mcultra finished third. The time lowered the previous stakes record of 1:54.1 held jointly by Decor and Cam Swifty.

Miller called Sand Windsor “one of the smartest young horses I’ve ever driven.”

“She lets you do anything you want with her, and she has wicked speed, “Miller said. “We’ve been a little careful leaving with her because she has Jate Lobell in her breeding; Jates tend to get a little hot.”

He said Sand Windsor is ticketed for a month of racing at The Red Mile. Jim Arledge, Jr. trains and Bill Sanders owns the daughter of Real Desire-Time N Again.

Fancy Filly remained undefeated in four career starts, scoring a no-suspense win for Sears in 1:53.2.

“She’s been a good one since Day 1,” said Teague, who had 17 starters in the card’s 16 races. “A lot of the good ones are like that. She’s been racing for some good money in Pennsylvania, and she’s eligible to most of the big stakes later on.”

Theodore Gewertz, Only Money Inc. and George Teague, Jr. Inc. own the daughter of Western Hanover-Fanciful Hanover, a $15,000 yearling purchase.

Farouche Hanover has gone to the lead in each of her four career starts. In the Knoll, she made that early lead stand up, defeating Smoke Pan Mirrors by a half-length in a career-best 1:54.4. Sand Gesture was third.

“We bought this filly at the early sale at Harrisburg last year,” said Randy Bendis, who trains the daughter of McArdle-Fatima and owns with Frank Castelli and Reed Broadway. “She was Hip No. 1, so she probably was the first horse to go on the auction block last year. We paid $11,000, kind of a bargain. The first sale usually includes some of the chancier prospects, but I thought she was the best-looking horse I saw that day. She would be fine racing from a hole.”