Meadowlands: Muscle Hill fillies star in Hambletonian Oaks eliminations

Delaney Hanover started the ball rolling in the first of three $50,000 elimination races for the Hambletonian Oaks by upsetting at odds of 11-1 for driver Scott Zeron in a race that featured Lady Landia, last year's Breeders Crown winner for the division. Delaney Hanover, a Muscle Hill-sired filly, converted on a second over trip to post a 1:52 3/5 career-best clocking at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.

Lasting Dream moved to the lead early, forcing both Sound Judgement and Champagne Problems to take a seat leading up to the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Driver Ken Oscarsson moved to take control with longshot Sound Judgement shortly following that call and was followed up by Champagne Problems with Dexter Dunn, who secured control well before the rated 56 3/5 half.

R Dutchess, second choice in the field, advanced first-over past the half for Tim Tetrick, towing Delaney Hanover up second-over. With Dunn in control and rating, Champagne Problems reached the three-quarters in 1:25 and looked to sprint away from the field.

Delaney Hanover, trained by Lucas Wallin, tipped off cover and made up ground rapidly in the homestretch to roll on by convincingly. Champagne Problems held strong for second with Sound Judgement narrowly holding down the third spot and a seat in next week's final. Kadena finished fourth. Favorite Lady Landia and driver Ake Svanstedt trailed most of the mile, lost ground on the final turn and could never recover, failing to reach the final.

Owned by Wiesman Farms LLC., Shermay Stables and Wallin Racing, Delaney Hanover is a daughter of Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall-sired Danielle Hanover. She returned $25.80 to win.

"She's an All Star," said co-owner Andrew Steinberg (Shermay Stables). "I thought she was always this good."

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Miss Belmar and driver Andrew McCarthy made a winning move past the first quarter and then survived a misstep in mid-stretch to capture the second $50,000 Oaks elimination in 1:52 3/5.

Voguish and Todd McCarthy established the early lead before Walspea and Trond Smedshammer went by heading to the 27 2/5 first quarter. That span was marred when both favorite What A Bid Hanover and Luna Lovegood made miscues. With the dust settled, McCarthy put Miss Belmar on the lead, and, without much activity, was able to slow the half to 57 seconds flat.

What A Bid Hanover and Ake Svanstedt recovered to challenge on the outside but was again off-stride on the final turn as Miss Belmar hit three-quarters in a relaxed 1:25 3/5 and began to sprint off in early stretch. Walspea tried to challenge but couldn't keep pace with the winner, and Voguish angled out for a lane with little response.

However, Yannick Gingras was able to find room with Deja Blu, and that filly made up ground quickly and appeared ready to overtake Miss Belmar when that one made a bad step and had to be steadied by McCarthy. Once Miss Belmar recovered her composure, she responded to urging to hold the field at bay with Deja Blu finishing second and Walspea third. R Lady W rallied late for fourth after encountering traffic.

Trained by Noel Daley, Miss Belmar was a winner for the third time in six starts this year for owners Allister Stables, Dean Ehrgott, Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing and Zei Zei Racing. As a 3-1 offering, Miss Belmar returned $8.80 to win.

"These are the big races you shoot for when you buy yearlings," said David Offenberg (Allister Stables) following the victory.

Daughters of Muscle Hill made it a clean sweep of the Oaks eliminations when Conversano captured the final $50,000 test, holding off R Charm in a thriller, with Andrew McCarthy getting the Juan Cano-trained filly to the winner's circle in a 1:52 4/5 mile.

R Charm and driver Scott Zeron took control from Aperfect Annie before the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Torrisi and Yannick Gingras also moved early and took a seat while favored Conversano got away fourth. With R Charm in control through a 56 2/5 half, Conversano took up the chase strongly on the final turn, tracked at a distance by EL Nightwish.

Conversano got up to R Charm before three-quarters and surged to the front quickly in the homestretch. Scott Zeron got after R Charm, and that filly fought back hard through the stretch to make it close, but Conversano prevailed. Aperfect Annie finished third with Torrisi battling to the wire for fourth and a berth in the final on lifetime earnings.

Owned by Hot Lead Farms, Conversano was a winner for the sixth time in eight starts this year and gave McCarthy two of the three Oaks elimination winners. As the favorite Conversano returned $2.60 to win.

"She gets a little lost when she's out by herself," said McCarthy, explaining the close finish. "I was quite pleased with her."