by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Undercover Lover, Pennsylvania’s 2006 freshman filly trotting champion, took the first step in her quest for consecutive titles on Saturday night (May 5) at The Meadows by handily capturing a division of a $95,880 Pennsylvania Sires Stake.

The event for 3-year-old trotting fillies, known as the Stenographer, was contested over five divisions, with Ipanema Oaks, Upmarket Hanover, KC Cool Caviar and Up Front Laura taking the other splits.

Undercover Lover, a daughter of Tagliabue, has emerged as one of the best bargains in harness racing. The $3,700 yearling purchase has now banked nearly $222,000 and won such prestigious events as the 2006 Matron Stake.

“I liked her breeding, the Valley Victory on the dam’s side,” said owner/trainer Lori Castranuovo. “I have a half-brother to her. If he ever comes around, he’ll be just as good as she is.”

In the Stenographer, her first start since early December, Undercover Lover cruised to an easy lead for driver Tony Hall and never relinquished it. She scored in 1:58.4, but her last quarter of :30.1 indicated that she needed the race. Honalulu Lulu was two lengths back in second, with Donna’s Fast Image finishing third.

While Undercover Lover is eligible to such major stakes as the Hambletonian Oaks, Castranuovo said she’s not looking that far down the road.

“I go race by race,” she said. “If she comes out of this one good, we’ll go to the next one.”

Ipanema Oaks scored the stake’s fastest victory, 1:57.2, the quickest mile this year by a 3-year-old filly trotter on a five-eighths-mile track and just two ticks off the stake record established in 1997 by No Nonsense Woman. The daughter of Lindy Lane was parked for the first quarter, but driver Mike Wilder said the effort didn’t fatigue her.

“Whenever a horse came to her, she picked the bit right up,” Wilder said. “When I asked her to trot, she acted as if she could go all day.”

Erv Miller trains Ipanema Oaks for Jerry Silva. Decanter was a good second, just a length back, with Sudden Susan a distant third.

Wilder also piloted Upmarket Hanover, who won for the ninth time in 14 career outings despite a layoff of more than six months. Wilder gave the daughter of S J’s Photo a beautiful second-over trip, notching the win without having to extend the horse in her seasonal debut. She won in 1:58.1, with Penn Tag and Free Style rounding out the ticket.

Wilder could be forgiven any mixed emotions since his wife, Heather, was part owner of Upmarket Hanover until the horse’s purchase over the winter by William B. Weaver III. Doug Miller is now the trainer.

“You always would like to own her, but when it comes time to sell, you have to do it,” Wilder said. “The great thing is, I still get to drive her some. That’s a bonus.”

Stenographer notes: Stringtowner, a Meadows newcomer, captured the $15,000 Preferred Handicap with a prolonged first-over move for driver Ray Paver and owner/trainer Chuck Grubbs. The time was a smart 1:52.1.

Trainer/driver Sam Beegle was kicked by his horse, Photo Magic, minutes before she was to start in her Stenographer division. Beegle was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of an arm wound and further examination. Photo Magic raced with Don Rothfuss up.