Handover Belle just missed by a nose to Market Share one week ago, tonight, she flipped the script on her eight harness racing opponents winning the $28,500 Open Trot in 1:51.1 at The Meadowlands.
Combined in the wagering with Gural Hanover, Handover Belle allowed the pace to settle down in front of her, as her stablemate did the early lifting, reaching the quarter in a sharp 26.4. As the field turned down the backstretch, Hanover Belle made her move for the lead and she cleared Gural Hanover and rolled past the half-mile in 54.1. With no challenge coming around the far turn, Handover Belle was able to back the field down a bit, trotting 28.4 on the far turn. At that point, Gural Hanover pulled the pocket to challenge his entry-mate in the stretch as the rest of the field closed in. Wind Of The North mounted a strong bid along the pylons, while Allie Labrook and Shake It Cerry came charging down the center of the racetrack. But, Handover Belle was able to hold everyone off to score a game victory. Wind Of The North rallied up the pylons for the place spot, with Allie Labrook rolling late to get up for third.
Handover Belle was driven by Yannick Gingras for Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Howard Taylor. With the victory, Handover Belle surpassed $500,000 in lifetime earnings.
Handover Belle
The Jimmy Takter duo of French Laundry and The Bank were as-advertised in the $23,750 three year old open trot as they made their final tune-ups for The Hambletonian. Sent off as the 2/5 favored entry, The Bank cleared the lead going past the three-eighths pole, while his stable-mate, French Laundry, followed suit and took over into the far turn. French Laundry opened up daylight as the field reached the head of the stretch, but The Bank cut into that margin through the lane as the two finished well in front of the rest of the field and streaked under the line together, with French Laundry holding on by a neck in 1:52.4. It was four lengths back to Aldebaran Eagle in third.
French Laundry was driven by Brett Miller for Jimmy and Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. The win was the 10th in 18 lifetime starts for French Laundry and his earnings now stand at over $392,000.
French Laundry
The freshman trotters geared up for the first round of major stakes for the two year olds on Friday night at The Meadowlands. Twenty four fillies went behind the gate in three eliminations of the Jim Doherty Memorial (formerly The Merrie Annabelle) while 19 colts and geldings contested the Peter Haughton Memorial eliminations, split into two divisions.
One of the major stars of the night was Broadway Donna, who entered the first Doherty elimination with an unblemished record and she left just the same, romping to a 1:53.3 score as the 1/9 prohibitive choice over Celebrity Eventsy and I'm Outstanding. The clocking was not only a lifetime mark, but it was the fastest mile by any two year old trotter, filly or colt, thus far in 2015.
Broadway Donna was guided to victory by Dave Miller for trainer John Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC, who also bred the filly. She will undoubtedly be a short-priced favorite in the $389,450 Jim Doherty Memorial Final on Hambletonian Day after running her record to a perfect five for five.
Broadway Donna
The second elimination for the Doherty saw Womans Will assert her will over eight other fillies, winning in 1:55.3 as the even money favorite. She held off a late burst from the Jimmy Takter trained and driven Miss Tezsla and Silent Blessings.
Womans Will was driven by Andy Miller for Julie Miller and owners Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, who bred the filly.
Womans Will
Kathy Parker got the job done as a co-favorite at 5/2 in the third elimination of the Doherty, winning in 1:56.1 for Johnny Takter. The two year old filly was guided to the lead before the half-mile pole and appeared to be an easy winner, until a 90-1 longshot, Lindy's On Fire, burst on the scene in the last sixteenth of a mile, but Kathy Parker was able to hold on by the narrowest of margins. Sunset Glider was a trapped-in third.
Kathy Parker, named for the editor of the Horsemen and Fair World, was trained by Jimmy Takter for Christina Takter, Brixton Medical, R A W Equine and J. Mc Clelland.
Kathy Parker
The nine that have locked in their spots in the $389,450 Jim Doherty Memorial Final are:
Broadway Donna
Womans Will
Kathy Parker
Celebrity Eventsy
I'm Outstanding
Miss Tezsla
Silent Blessings
Lindy's On Fire
Sunset Glider
The three fourth place finishers that will be draw by lot for the final spot in the final are:
Southwind Adele
Gifted Lady
Encore Gold
The draw for the last entrant and the post position draw for the Jim Doherty Memorial will take place on Saturday afternoon.
The first Peter Haughton elimination saw another favorite return dividends as Southwind Frank made short work of the field of 10, scoring his third victory in four starts in 1:54.1 as the 1/5 betting choice. Leading from the three-eighths pole to the wire, Southwind Frank easily held sway in the stretch over Earn And Burn and Alexander Hanover.
Southwind Frank was driven to victory by Yannick Gingras for Ron Burke, who co-owns the colt with Weaver Bruscemi, Our Hrs Cents Stables and J & T Silva Stables.
Southwind Frank
The second elimination produced an 8-1 upset in Milligan's School, who sat third behind a rapid pace, moved on the far turn, opened up in the stretch and held sway rather easily in 1:54.1. Favored Bar Hopping rallied willingly in the stretch to be second with Brooklyn Hill a game third.
The winner is owned by Story Inc and trained by Julie Miller. Andy and Julie Miller teamed up for their second win of the night.
Milligan's School
The 10 two year olds qualifying for the $349,850 Peter Haughton Memorial Final are:
Southwind Frank
Milligan's School
Earn And Burn
Sliding Home
Alexander Hanover
Dominion Beach
Bar Hopping
Brooklyn Hill
Southwind Flash
Winter Harbor
Both fields will be drawn on Saturday afternoon.
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 carryover went unclaimed on Friday night and the carryover into the Saturday program will be $225,376.
Post time for the Saturday program, featuring the eliminations for The Hambletonian Oaks is 7:15 P.M.