Meadowlands: Hot Mess Express best in Mistletoe Shalee

Hot Mess Express improved her record to six wins from six starts in 2021, gamely holding off a first-over bid from Dan Patch Award winner Fire Start Hanover to win the $174,400 Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Andrew McCarthy, Hot Mess Express made front at the 27 1/5 opening quarter and then put another 27 1/5 panel on the board to go to the half in 54 2/5. Coming to that marker, driver Dexter Dunn moved Fire Start Hanover off the cones from fourth, and she advanced menacingly into second on the last turn.

Little separated Hot Mess Express and Fire Start Hanover at the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters, and their duel continued into the lane, even as Hot Mess Express put in a few steps when McCarthy pulled out her earplugs coming off the last turn. After collecting herself and then facing a nose-and-nose situtation in mid-stretch, Hot Mess Express stood her ground at the inside and dispatched Fire Start Hanover late in the going en route to winning by three-parts of a length in 1:48 3/5, which equaled the stakes record. Fire Start Hanover was a gallant second, and Blue Diamond Eyes came in third. Grace Hill (Todd McCarthy) and Off The Record (Corey Callahan) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

"She just got a little wobbly on me. Back on a different track, and maybe she just didn't handle it quite as well. She had plenty of go, and she proved it mid-stretch," remarked McCarthy. "This is one of my favorites. She's an absolute thrill to drive."

Now with a lifetime record of 10-3-0 from 15 career starts, Hot Mess Express has banked $406,015. The 1-5 favorite, she paid $2.40 to win.

"I said she was a dream filly, and to see what she did tonight was absolutely incredible," said Sam Bowie, who owns the daughter of Panther Hanover. "The thing I liked tonight is she put a step or two in, and she was able to gather herself and go a mile in 48 and a piece."