Meadowlands: Photo finishes in both Jim Doherty Memorial eliminations

Two-year-old filly trotters battled the rain and each other in Friday night's pair of $20,000 Jim Doherty Memorial eliminations at the Meadowlands, and when the results were in, it was two upsetters winning the races by the slimmest of margins, with Special Honor and Starita prevailing.

The first elimination saw Hanovers Best (Brett Miller) blast to the lead in a 28 2/5 opening quarter while favored Susy (Jimmy Takter) jumped it off in the first turn. Jezzy's Legacy (Ray Schnittker) had to park four-wide to get around the breaker, but would advance up and get the lead in the backstretch. Hanovers Best waited for a short time in the pocket, but she surged back into the lead right at the 57 second half, with Hanna Dreamgirl (Tim Tetrick) briefly following the bid, then settling into a first-up position.

Hanna Dreamgirl got a slim lead on the outside on the final bend, but she was unable to clear Hanovers Best, and they were side-by-side at the 1:26 three-quarters. While that was going on up front, the outer tier was being clogged well back by a parked Speed Titan (Brian Sears), causing traffic woes for a second-over The Ice Dutchess (Yannick Gingras) and third-over Mother Bonnie (Andrew McCarthy), and seeing that the cover flow was going nowhere, Special Honor (Andy Miller) dropped back to the rail from the back.

In the stretch the battle between Hanovers Best and Hanna Dreamgirl continued, but the backfield began to get energized, with The Ice Dutchess catching the eye on the far outside. Special Honor, who had been able to angle out off the final turn, was also surging, and she found a late seam between The Ice Dutchess and Hanna Dreamgirl to get up and score by a nose in a 1:55 1/5 clocking. The Ice Dutchess was a good second, followed by Hanna Dreamgirl, Hanovers Best, and Jezzy's Legacy.

Special Honor, a daughter of Father Patrick trained by Julie Miller, is a homebred competing for Brittany Farms LLC., Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld. This was Special Honor's second win from four starts, and she has now earned $31,250. She is the second foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Honor Thy Daughter (1:56 4/5, $57,164), a full sister to Honor And Serve (1:53 1/5, $413,015). Dispatched at 18-1, she paid $38.60 to win.

The rain was coming down in a torrent for the second elimination, and it would be Starita (David Miller) on the point at the 28 4/5 opening quarter, but public choice Beautiful Sin (Gingras) trotted up on the outside to take over past that marker. Beautiful Sin looked strong through a half in 56 4/5 and a three-quarters in 1:25 4/5, but she got lonely on the lead in the lane, and Starita pounced to her inside in deep stretch, getting up for the win by a nostril in 1:55 2/5. Fate Smiled (McCarthy) was third, well back from the top-two, with Swizzle Sticks (Tetrick) fourth and Whispering Oaks (Scott Zeron) fifth.

From the first crop of Trixton, Starita is trained by Joe Holloway for owners Val D'Or Farms and Ted Gewertz. Starita, who was bred by Brittany Farms LLC. and fetched $50,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, broke her maiden in her fifth chance, and she has now banked $25,000. Starita is the third foal out of the Cantab Hall mare Morningstar (2:00 4/5, $69,757), a full sister to On The Bright Side (1:53 4/5, $270,211). Starita was sent off at 6-1 and returned $14.00 to win.