Meadowlands: Hannelore Hanover stays perfect in 2018, ties track record

Hannelore Hanover improved to six-for-six in 2018 with a track record-equaling 1:50 2/5 performance in the second of two $30,000 Miss Versatility divisions for trotting mares on Saturday evening at the Meadowlands. Broadway Donna, a two-time Dan Patch Award winner in her own right, won the other flight in 1:51 1/5, matching her lifetime mark.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Hannelore Hanover made front and led her six rivals through opening-half fractions of 27 1/5 and 55 4/5. Celebrity Ruth (David Miller), who had taken a three-hole tuck on the first turn, came first-up on the final bend and closed on Hannelore Hanover to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, but Hannelore Hanover repelled her bid, and also dispatched an inside try by pocket-sitter Ice Attraction (Ake Svanstedt) to record the victory by about half a length.

The 1:50 2/5 clocking tied OHO Diamond's standard for the division that was set last year.

"I was just measuring in the stretch. I didn’t want her to do more than she had to," explained Gingras.

This was the 42nd career win for Hannelore Hanover, a 6-year-old Swan For All mare trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Frank Baldachino, and J And T Silva Stables LLC. She has now earned $2,707,152 and paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

Back in the opening section, 1-2 favorite Emoticon Hanover (Daniel Dube) was on top at the 28 second opening quarter, but Broadway Donna (Miller) moved to the outside from third in the backstretch and made front just as they passed the 55 3/5 half. Miller was able to steal a breather around the far turn, getting to three-quarters in just 1:24, and Broadway Donna out-sprinted her rivals to the wire, winning by about two lengths over Caprice Hill (Doug McNair), who trailed, switched back to the inside from a stalled outer flow on the last turn, and closed up the cones. Emoticon Hanover was third.

Broadway Donna, who was facing a field of solely female rivals for the first time this season, is a 5-year-old Donato Hanover mare trained by Jim Campbell for owner/breeder Fashion Farms LLC. She is now a 20-time winner in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to $1,320,323. She returned $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice.