Meadowlands: Hannelore Hanover rallies by Gimpanzee to win star-studded qualifier

It was a perfect Saturday morning for qualifiers at the Meadowlands with sunny skies, a slight cross breeze, and temperatures in the 70’s. The track was rated as fast when the races began at 10 A.M.

Hannelore Hanover is back! The 2017 Dan Patch Horse of the Year and career winner of $2.8 million made her 2019 debut an impressive winning one over current “Road to the Hambletonian” list-topper Gimpanzee (Brian Sears). Settled in fifth through the early poles, Hannelore Hanover had advanced to third via a few breakers by the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, fanned wide, and engaged the leading Gimpanzee, then prevailed on the wire in 1:53 flat with a sub 27 final quarter under her own power. Super Schissel (Scott Zeron) was right in between the top pair in third. Ron Burke trains Hannelore Hanover for his interests as Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva, and Joe Bongiorno picked up the drive this morning.

Beautiful Sin was ultra-impressive this morning, not only beating a field of quality male rivals but doing so authoritatively. Driver Tim Tetrick moved the Muscle Hill lass first-over from fourth as they passed the 59 2/5 half and brushed past the leader Gerry (Marcus Melander) through the 29 1/5 third panel, leaving the boys behind with a 27 flat close to the 1:55 3/5 mile. Gerry stayed on for second while White Tiger (Sears) was a rated third. Lennart Agren’s S R F Stable owns Beautiful Sin, who at $480,000 was the highest priced yearling of 2017, and Per Engbloom trains.

Trainer Domenico Cecere brought a string of Lindy Farms 3-year-old trotting colts in for their first foray of the new season and drove the Chapter Seven colt Refi to a front stepping 1:56 2/5 (28 2/5 final quarter) win under wraps over stable-mate Signore Cardin (Sears). Wing Suit (Zeron) was comfortably third. Refi is owned by Lindy Farms and Bob Rudolph.

Sophomore pacing colts came around next and a pair of trainer Tony Alagna’s Captaintreacherous colts finished 1-2 with Captain McKee (Tetrick) prevailing from the pocket in 1:52 3/5 (27 1/5 final quarter) over mile-cutter Captain Cash (Andy McCarthy), with Magic Joe Lindy (Zeron) third. Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Brad Grant, and Captain Trevor Racing own the winner.

Another round of Captains swept the first three spots in the next race with Latissimus Hanover (Tetrick) leading throughout under restraint and holding Captain Ahab (McCarthy) and Shipshape (Matt Krueger) at bay in 1:51 1/5 (28 1/5 final quarter). Trainer Ray Schnittker owns the speedy colt with Mary Kinsey Arnold and Ted Gewertz.

Tall Drink Hanover (McCarthy) completed the “Captain sweep” for the sophomore pacers, winning handily in 1:51 4/5 (27 1/5 final quarter) under complete wraps. Key West (Tetrick) was a good second. Alagna trains both and owns the winner as Alagna Racing along with Marvin Katz and Riverview Racing (Stephanie & Myron Bell).

Western Joe was pacing out of his skin through a 26 1/5 end to a 1:50 1/5 mile this morning, looking like he’s ready to roll after this, his third qualifier. He tracked Shnitzledosomethin (Tetrick) throughout and roared past that rival under some Zeron rousing in the stretch. Chris Choate trains the 2018 Sam McKee Memorial winner for Anthony Ruggeri and Joe Tosies.

--press release (the Meadowlands)--