Meadowlands: Bellisima Hanover surges to Kindergarten Series crown

Bellisima Hanover knifed between horses inside the final eighth from the pocket and got up in the shadow of the wire to win the $238,810 Kindergarten Series final for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, collecting her biggest victory to date in her career.

Driver Todd McCarthy had Bellisima Hanover on the engine at the 27 3/5 opening quarter after leaving from post seven, but she yielded the top to 1-5 favorite Charleston (Dexter Dunn), who brushed from third to first prior to the 55 3/5 half. Charleston maintained command through three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, but Cultured (Scott Zeron) was out and on the move first-over from fourth, and she would get alongside Bellisima Hanover before they turned for home, pinning Bellisima Hanover on the inside.

In the lane Charleston continued to show the way while Bellisima Hanover sought room and Cultured was stalled on the rim, but had enough pace to keep Bellisima Hanover from angling out. However, Cultured lugged out just a bit in mid-stretch, and that gave McCarthy the gap he needed. Once she had space, Bellisima Hanover had enough kick and enough time to catch and get by Charleton, prevailing by a neck in 1:50 2/5. Cultured held off Cantgetuoutamymind (Corey Callahan) for third, and Lisa Lane (Patrick Ryder) came in fifth.

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"I kind of thought I was in a great spot there until probably at the top of the stretch, then it wasn't looking so promising. We were lucky enough to shake loose late, and she certainly surged to the line. I was looking for anywhere I could go. Fortunate enough, I guess Cultured got a little tired and drifted up the track. I was able to squeeze through that little gap. When I did, Bellisima, she certainly surged forward and found the line very well," Todd McCarthy said in the winner's circle. "It's always hard when you're talking about horses like this to get past them off fractions like that. It was still solid enough I thought, and I figured if we could shake loose late, I had enough faith in that filly that she could get the job done.

"She's been so good, and earlier in the season she put down some big miles. She had a couple off runs, but full credit to Tony [Alagna], he got her back and spot on tonight. That was a good way to get towards the end of the season with her any way."

Alagna trains Bellisima Hanover, a daughter of Captaintreacherous-Bedroomconfessions bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Riverview Breeding LLC., and Visionary Breeders LLC., for owners Riverview Racing LLC., Alagna Racing LLC., Caviart Farms, and D Plouffe and S Head. A $400,000 buy at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, she has three wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 11 tries, has put away $205,514, and returned $11.80 to win as the 9-2 second choice.