Harrah's Philadelphia: Anoka Hanover stars in Friday's Simpson Memorials

Anoka Hanover, coming off wins in a leg of the Kindergarten Classic and both of her starts at The Red Mile, picked up her fourth straight Grand Circuit victory with a facile 1:55 decision in the second of two John Simpson Memorial divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters on Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Driven by Todd McCarthy in the $56,400 event, Anoka Hanover came up on the outside to take over the top spot from Myreanna (George Napolitano Jr.) after a 29 2/5 opening quarter. Anoka Hanover continued to lead through a 58 second half and a 1:26 3/5 three-quarters, widening her lead at both of those calls, and continued to open up to the wire, which she reached 9 1/2 lengths ahead of Iglare AM (Anthony MacDonald). Keystone Barracuda (Charlie Norris) came in third.

Trainer Noel Daley also co-owns Anoka Hanover, a daughter of Donato Hanover, with L.A. Express Stable LLC. and Caviart Farms. Anoka Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., was taken out of the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale for $35,000 and now has seven triumphs from 11 trips behind the gate, in addition to stashing away $243,291. Anoka Hanover is the fifth foal out of the Yankee Glide mare Aunt Mel (1:54, $280,332), and paid $2.10 across the board as the 1-9 favorite.

The other $56,000 Simpson Memorial for rookie trotting fillies was much more competitive as Love Muffin (Corey Callahan) advanced from third to first heading to the 57 2/5 half, then maintained command through a 1:26 4/5 three-quarters and into the lane. Pocket-sitter Goo Doo Doll (Russell Foster) tipped out of the pocket for the stretch drive and cut into the leader's advantage to the wire, but she came up a nose short of Love Muffin in a 1:57 mile. Cheesy Hanover (Todd Schadel) collected third.

Love Muffin is an Andover Hall-Pine Yankee (Yankee Glide) filly trained by David Wiest for owners/breeders Edward Kimmel and Donald Wiest. The PA Stallion Series champion for the group, Love Muffin has a record of 7-1-1 from ten appearances, and she has earned $114,859. She returned $4.00 to win as the even money favorite.

There were also three Simpson Memorial splits for 2-year-old pacing fillies on the card, and trainer Linda Toscano won two of them. Her first victor was High Minded, a daughter of Captaintreacherous-Auniqueaquistion (Cole Muffler), who turned a pocket trip into a 1:53 4/5 decision in her $30,934 section. Dexter Dunn drove the two-time winner and earner of $74,767 for owners Camelot Stable Inc., Fred Wallace, The Bays Stable LLC., and co-breeder Steve Stewart. High Minded paid $9.20 to win.

Toscano's other Simpson success came with Roll With Joe-Armbro Amoretto (Artsplace) filly Albergita Hanover (Scott Zeron), who landed on the front after a 28 3/5 opening quarter and stayed on the point en route to a one length victory in 1:54 1/5. Albergita Hanover, who made her third trip to the winner's circle and has now banked $142,517, is owned by Seth Coen, George Derocker, Camelot Stable Inc., and Decker's Corner Stable. Albergita Hanover returned $4.00 to win.

Darby Hanover (Marcus Miller), a daughter of Betting Line-Darena Hanover (Yankee Cruiser) won the remaining Simpson Memorial test for rookie pacing fillies in 1:53 2/5. She tucked in third from post six, brushed to the front prior to the 56 2/5 half, and couldn't be reeled in, winning by three-parts of a length for trainer Julie Miller and owners Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Caroll Huffman. Darby Hanover now owns five victories and has a bankroll of $89,666. She paid $5.00 to win.