Meadowlands: Upsets in elimination races for rookie trotters

Favorites went zero-for-three in elimination events for 2-year-old trotters on Friday night at the Meadowlands. Darlene Hanover and Mazzarati were the winners of the $20,000 Jim Doherty Memorial eliminations for the fillies, and Plumville Prince took the single $20,000 elimination of the Peter Haughton Memorial for the colts and geldings.

In the first Jim Doherty Memorial elimination, Ineffable (Brian Sears) led through a 28 1/5 opening quarter and a 57 2/5 half but was overtaken on the outside by a pocket-pulling May Karp (Dexter Dunn) at the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters. Heavily-favored Insta Glam (Yannick Gingras) was following May Karp from second-over but then broke after three-quarters, throwing the race wide-open as the fillies turned for home.

Darlene Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) was moving three-wide from fourth-over when Insta Glam broke, and as Insta Glam went wide on a gallop, that pushed Darlene Hanover even wider. Despite the interference, Darlene Hanover was full of trot through the lane, powering by all the leaders on her way to a maiden-breaking win in 1:54 4/5. Material Girl (Tim Tetrick) was second, followed by Hot As Hill (Joe Bongiorno), Ineffable, and May Karp.

A daughter of Chapter Seven, Darlene Hanover is trained by Brett Bittle for owner Yankeeland Partners LLP. Darlene Hanover, a $130,000 buy at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and is the first foal out of Danielle Hanover, an unraced Cantab Hall half-sister to Donato Hanover. Darlene Hanover was dispatched at 12-1 and paid $26.80 to win.

Mazzarati (Tetrick) stayed flat in the other Jim Doherty Memorial elimination, and that ended up being the key to victory as five of the seven fillies in the group broke at one point or another. New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Altar (David Miller) overtook leader Ixia Maculata (Sears) for the lead from the pocket past the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters and looked to be on her way to victory when she broke inside in the last eighth. Mazzarati took advantage, inheriting the top spot and a one and a quarter length decision in 1:56. Avenir (Gingras) broke early but recovered to finish second, and Ixia Maculata was placed third ahead of the off-stride Altar. Sel's Choice (Mark MacDonald), another early breaker, got the last spot in next Saturday's final.

Lucas Wallin trains Mazzarati, a filly by Cantab Hall, for owners Mazza Racing Stables LLC. and Stormi And Bruiser Stable. Mazzarati, who was bred by Fair Winds Farm Inc. and fetched $100,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, is now a two-time winner from three trips behind the gate. Mazzarati is the seventh foal out of the millionaire Yankee Glide mare Falls For You and returned $16.80 to win as a 7-1 offering.

Moonstone (Tetrick), Venerate (Andy Miller), and Caruso (David Miller) took turns on the lead through fractions of 28 4/5, 58, and 1:26 2/5 in the Peter Haughton Memorial elimination, but Plumville Prince (Scott Zeron), who tucked in fifth from post eight and waited on the inside, found a gap between horses in the lane, squeezed through, and kicked clear to prevail by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 2/5. Moonstone, Venerate, Media Mogul (Dunn), Caruso, Zenith Stride (Sears) and Incentive (MacDonald) also moved on to the final, where they will join bye-takers Locatelli, Spy Booth and Type A.

Plumville Prince is a Father Patrick colt trained by Rick Zeron for owners/breeders Thomas Brice and Charles Receski. Plumville Prince picked up his first win in his third chance, and he is the second foal out of the Muscle Massive mare Lady Athens, a half-sister to $774,615 earner Major Athens (Andover Hall). A 5-1 shot, Plumville Prince paid $13.00 to win.