Meadowlands: Alagna, McCarthy clean up in Reynolds trots for sophomore fillies

Trainer Tony Alagna and driver Andrew McCarthy swept the two W.N. Reynolds Memorial divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, with both Beltassima and Piper Hanover turning second-over trips into victories.

Last year's Breeders Crown winner Lady Chaos (David Miller) put up fractions of 27 4/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25 1/5 in the first $49,050 flight, but McCarthy sent Beltassima three-wide off the cover of Dutiful (Yannick Gingras), and with a 27 second final kicker, Beltassima got up to win by three-parts of a length in 1:52 3/5. Lady Chaos wound up second, and Adirondack (Dexter Dunn) was third after electing to sit on the inside on the last turn and then encountering traffic issues in the lane.

The New Jersey Sire Stakes champion, Beltassima is a daughter of Trixton owned by Crawford Farms Racing and bred by D Farm LLC. She is now a five-time winner from 12 career starts, and she has now earned $181,212. She was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.40 to win.

In the other $49,550 section Hot As Hill (Miller) made front from post two and chopped out panels of 28 2/5, 56 4/5, and 1:26, but Piper Hanover tracked Darlene Hanover (Scott Zeron) from second-over and blasted home in 26 3/5 to prevail by a length and three-quarters in 1:53. Darlene Hanover wound up second, with Hot As Hill third.

A daughter of Father Patrick, Piper Hanover was bred by Brittany Farms LLC. and Mel Hartman, and now Brittany Farms shares ownership with Marvin and Lynn Katz and Al Libfeld. Piper Hanover has compiled a record of 4-2-3 from 12 trips behind the gate, and she has now put away $86,115. Sent off as the favorite, Piper Hanover returned $4.80 to win.