Meadowlands: Hannelore Hanover stretches win streak to six in Fresh Yankee

1-9 favorite Hannelore Hanover out-dueled a game Shake It Cerry to the wire to take the $188,350 Fresh Yankee for trotting mares on the Hambletonian undercard at the Meadowlands. The time for the added distance of a mile and an eighth was 2:05.

With Yannick Gingras at the controls, Hannelore Hanover took over the first spot from Meadowbranch Wendy (Bjorn Goop) at the 27 second opening quarter. She would then go on to get to the half in 55 4/5 while Rules Of The Road (Corey Callahan) moved first-over from fourth with Shake It Cerry (Dave Miller) on the cover.

Meadowbranch Wendy went on a break in the pocket past the half, and that allowed Hannelore Hanover to open up a gap on her rivals entering the far turn. However, Rules Of The Road and Shake It Cerry closed back in near the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, and then Shake It Cerry moved first-over.

Shake It Cerry was able to drop into the pocket behind Hannelore Hanover at the top of the stretch, and then came back to the outside again near the 1:51 mile mark, which would have tied the world record had the race been held at the traditional distance. Hannelore Hanover and Shake It Cerry battled side-by-side to the wire, but Hannelore Hanover was resilient, and she would win by half a length. Jewels In Hock (John Campbell) finished in the third position.

"You've got to credit to Shake It Cerry. She's a great mare too, and Jimmy Takter always has them ready on Hambletonian Day," said Gingras. " (Trainer Ron Burke) certainly had this mare ready as well. She put up all the fractions and really dug in late."

Hannelore Hanover, a 4-year-old daughter of Swan For All, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Frank Baldachino. She has now won 20 times from 33 starts, and she has earned $872,354. She paid $2.20 to win.