Meadowlands: The Ice Dutchess regains winning form in Continentalvictory

The Ice Dutchess missed out on advancing to the Hambletonian Oaks final but came through with an improved performance to take a $30,000 division of the Continentalvictory for sophomore trotting fillies on Hambletonian Eve at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Nancy Johansson and owner Coyote Wynd Farms, The Ice Dutchess made front going to the 55 3/5 half, stayed on the point to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, and dug in through the lane to keep Starita (Dexter Dunn) at bay for the win by half a length in a career-best 1:51 1/5. Golden Tricks (Ake Svanstedt) came in third.

Gobi Princess won the other split of the Continentalvictory in 1:53 2/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Anette Lorentzon, and owner Knutsson Trotting Inc. A regular competitor on the New York Sire Stakes circuit, it was the third career win for the daughter of Muscle Mass.

There were also two $50,000 Muscle Hill sections for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings on the card. Union Forces (Scott Zeron) led all the way and won the first grouping in 1:52 2/5 for trainer Domenico Cecere and owners Lindy Farms, Robert Rudolph, David Anderson, and John Fielding, and Chin Chin Hall (Dunn) charged home in 26 2/5 off dull cover to get up and prevail in 1:52 1/5 for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Oldford Racing LLC. and David McDuffee.