by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications

Milton, ON — Tall Drink Hanover converted off a perfect second-over steer from driver Andrew McCarthy to win the C$590,000 She’s A Great Lady final on Saturday night (Sept. 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Tony Alagna trained 2-year-old pacing filly got away fifth and was able to pick up cover at the half, which led to her powering by rivals in the lane for a career-best 1:51.1 victory.

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Tall Drink Hanover sets a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1 with her triumph in the She’s A Great Lady final.

“I wasn’t even too concerned if I had to come third-over, I knew that her kick in the stretch would probably be good enough,” said McCarthy. “It worked out great that I got a second-over trip and I couldn’t ask for any better.”

Longshot Art Lecture blasted from the outside to the top and battled with a parked out Queen Of The Pride to a :27 opening-quarter. The outside challenger cleared to the top entering the backstretch and reached the half in a sensible :55.4.

Sylph Hanover committed first-up from fourth going into the final turn, which allowed Tall Drink Hanover to get towed towards the lead. Queen Of The Pride maintained a lead of just over a length at three-quarters in 1:23.3.

In the stretch, Tall Drink Hanover shot off cover and powered home in :27 to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Treacherous Reign, who is also trained by Alagna, and Prescient Beauty rallied from third and fourth-over, respectively, to finish in a dead heat for second.

Queen Of The Pride crossed the line fourth, while elimination winner Ideation Hanover was fifth.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous, Tall Drink Hanover swept the elimination and final of the Shes A Great Lady to improve her record to five wins in eight starts. The $35,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase has now earned C$406,392 for owners Alagna Racing LLC, Marvin Katz and Riverview Racing LLC.

“One of the rare occasions when normally it’s $350,000 not $35,000 for us,” said Katz of purchasing Tall Drink Hanover as a yearling. “There she was in the ring and nothing was going on for whatever reason. She was four or five from the end of the day at Harrisburg. We liked her and were able to buy her for $35,000 and it was a surprise to us.”

Tall Drink Hanover’s victory gives McCarthy and Alagna there first She’s A Great Lady titles. A $2 win ticket on the Captaintreacherous filly returned $4.20.