Meadowlands: Conversano conquers in this year's Hambletonian Oaks
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An early give-and-go proved the winning move for Conversano, who rallied from an earned pocket to collar Walspea in the final 100 yards of the 55th edition of the $500,000 Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks, for 3-year-old trotting fillies, on Saturday (Aug. 2) at the Meadowlands.
In line to James MacDonald, the daughter of Muscle Hill-Celebrity Ruth found herself in the middle of a three-filly scrum for the early lead, flanked on approach to the first turn by Sound Judgement (driven by Kevin Oscarsson) and Aperfect Annie (Todd McCarthy), who cleared for a brief lead. After being looped, Conversano pushed forward to seize control at the end of a 27 1/5 first quarter, only to yield to Walspea (Trond Smedshammer) - who brushed out of midfield upon reaching the backstretch - with five-eighths to go.
As Walspea and Conversano raced one-two through middle fractions of 55 and 1:24 1/5, Sound Judgement made her second move, sustaining gradual first-over gains through the far turn to put mild pressure on the leader while towing Miss Belmar (Andy McCarthy) and Deja Blu (Yannick Gingras) into striking range for the stretch drive. Walspea did rebuff Sound Judgement off the corner for home, but Conversano had plenty left to emerge from the pocket in the final furlong and grind to the fore late in a lifetime-best 1:51 2/5 mile. Walspea held second, beaten a length; Delaney Hanover (Scott Zeron) rallied boldly off failing cover to eclipse Deja Blu for third, another three-quarters of a length back.
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The Oaks wasn't even on MacDonald's radar until a week ago, when he drove Gigglingonthebeach to a second-place finish in a Tompkins-Geers division for trainer Juan Cano, who in turn found himself in need of a driver for Conversano when Andy McCarthy opted to remain with Hambletonian Oaks elimination winner Miss Belmar for the final.
"It's just a case of right place, right time," said MacDonald. "It wasn't even on my radar, and Juan came to me, 'Are you coming next week?' I said, 'I'll probably come for Gigglingonthebeach (in the Shady Daisy). It's Hambo Day; I love being here.' He said, 'Maybe I'll put you on the one on the Oaks, too.' I was just shocked. Any time you can pick up a winner, it's unbelievable."
The Ontario-based MacDonald has enjoyed a flurry of recent success in major Meadowlands races, having won the 2024 Meadowlands Pace, with Legendary Hanover, and a pair of Breeders Crowns, with Coach Stefanos and Lady Landia.
Conversano is now a nine-time winner with $513,636 in earnings from 17 starts for breeder Joseph Parisi's Hot Lead Farm. She paid $6.80 to win as the 2-1 favorite.