Meadowlands: Manchego and Atlanta face-off in Miss Versatility

The time away from racing has been a sacrifice for many in the sport, but for some, staying off the track has provided a new lease on life. Take for example Atlanta. The 2018 Hambletonian champion was given extra time and the 5-year-old may in fact benefit greatly from that, as she embarks on what figures to be another great campaign.

Atlanta and driver Yannick Gingras will get to kick off their 2020 season together as one of seven entered in the opening leg of the Miss Versatility at The Meadowlands on Friday night, a $40,000 event marked as race 4 of 18 on the program.

"I think the extra time is really good for a horse like her. She looks fat but in a good way," said Gingras of Atlanta. "I think a couple of extra months away has been really good for her."

Atlanta makes her seasonal debut while giving rival Manchego a little bit of a leg up. With two qualifiers under her belt, Atlanta drew post four for the Miss Versatility, inside of Manchego, but Gingras wasn’t sure if that was a major advantage. "I'd have to give a slight edge to Manchego since she's had a start already," Gingras said. "But Atlanta has always started fast for Ronnie (Burke). Even when Rick (Zeron) had her she started fast."

Atlanta has not raced competitively since last November, but couldn’t have been any better than she was in consecutive qualifying miles at Gaitway Farms in preparation. On May 31, she relaxed in the early stages and then sprinted home to an easy 1:54 1/5 clocking. On June 8, Gingras was more assertive and cut the tempo with Atlanta, leading to a 1:51 4/5 blowout victory that included a final half in 54 3/5 seconds.

Manchego, a mare that Gingras was the prime driver on during her brilliant 2- and 3-year-old seasons that included a victory in the Hambletonian Oaks in 2018, was absolutely vicious in her 5-year-old debut on June 5 at The Meadowlands, going overland and scoring under wraps for driver Dexter Dunn in a 1:50 3/5 mile. A daughter of Muscle Hill, Manchego drew post six in the Miss Versatility and is looking for her 29th career victory for trainer Nancy Takter.

Given his intimate knowledge of both mares, Gingras offered obvious praise in the talent department but was able to separate them in some ways. "I think Manchego is a better horse when she can cut the mile. I'd say Atlanta is more of a trippy kind of horse," Gingras said. "I think with the divisions being so strong this year, it could work out to Atlanta’s advantage."

Joining the field of seven for the Miss Versatility will be Felicityshagwell S (post 7), making her North American debut for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt. Felicityshagwell S is a Swedish-bred daughter of Maharajah that has finished first or second in half of her 22 career starts. She was a solid second behind Manchego on May 30 at The Meadowlands in a qualifying mile.

With 18 races on tap and a first post time of 6:00 p.m., it’s going to be an extended program at The Meadowlands. For Gingras, there's plenty of reason for excitement awaiting him in the 16th race where Grandma Heidi will be looking for her second straight victory in the $12,000 conditioned trot. A 4-year-old mare Gingras owns in partnership with Frank Canzone, she shattered her lifetime mark by a full four seconds in scoring in 1:51 when the Meadowlands reopened on June 5.

"I couldn't drive her in the qualifier (Gaitway Farms, May 31) because I was driving Mission Accepted," said Gingras. "Dexter (Dunn) drove her for me and told me after the race that if he got out he would have beaten me. I kind of laughed it off at the time." With Gingras in tow in her return, Grandma Heidi trotted a final quarter of 26 2/5, overpowering a good group.

"She's another horse that I think the time off did her some good. She was always a little sore when we got her and I think she’s sounder now," said Gingras, "Marcus (Miller) told me that she was always a horse that had speed but they couldn't keep her sound." Scott DiDomenico trains Grandma Heidi, who was a private purchase from trainer Erv Miller back in February.