Meadowlands: When Dovescry delivers again in Miss Versatility

It's tough to make a lot of noise in a division that includes Atlanta and Manchego, but When Dovescry continued to be heard loud and clear in the Miss Versatility, taking the sixth and final $40,000 leg of the series for open trotting mares at the Meadowlands Friday night, her fourth Miss Versatility score of the season.

The 5-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill-Cedar Dove, the 2019 Hambletonian Oaks champion, was on the go early but was stacked up wide around the first turn from post seven in the seven-horse field before driver Dave Miller urged the Brett Pelling trainee alongside leader Sorella as that one hit the quarter in 27 1/5 before taking the top shortly thereafter.

When Dovescry kept rolling on the point down the backside, trotting a spirited 27 4/5 second fraction to maintain the top. As the field made its way onto the far turn, Sorella, the 9-2 third choice, vacated the pocket to take a shot at the leader and got to within three-quarters of a length as three-quarters was timed in 1:24 1/5.

But through the stretch, Sorella was no match for When Dovescry, who went on to an easy 2 3/4 length win in 1:51 4/5. Felicityshagwell S was third.

"That's what we've seen before," said Pelling. "We just love her to death. She's matured into a rock-solid horse with no maintenance issues. She's very good and awesome to be around."

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When Dovescry now has four wins from 10 starts this year (including a victory over Atlanta on July 31) and is 16-for-39 lifetime, with earnings of $1,278,550 for owner John Lengacher. As the 3-5 favorite, she paid $3.20 to win.

Up next on her dance card is the Armbro Flight at Mohawk before the estimated $100,000 Miss Versatility Final at the Delaware (OH) County Fairgrounds on Little Brown Jug Day (Sept. 23).

Pelling had high praise for the two giants in the mare trotting division, horses When Dovescry will likely face in the coming weeks.

"Manchego and Atlanta? They're champions. They might be the best I've ever seen. Manchego is one of the finest gaited horses I've ever seen. She's incredible. But When Dovescry. She is a champion to us," he said.

Pelling also won a W.N. Reynolds Memorial division for 2-year-old filly pacers on the card with Treacherous Dragon, a daughter of Captaintreacherous-My Little Dragon bred by White Birch Farm, in 1:53 with Tim Tetrick at the controls for owner Hot Lead Farm LLC. Tetrick added another Reynolds triumph with pacing colt Captainryanmichael, a son Captaintreacherous-Pucker Up who charged home from fourth-over to score in 1:51 3/5 for co-owner/trainer Joe Pavia Jr., co-owner/breeder Steven Held, and their partner Thomas Maloney,

Dexter Dunn also won a pair of Reynolds events, guiding trotting filly Lilbitalexis, a Walner-Jolie De Vie filly bred by Keith Clark, Dr. Jeff Ruch, and Daniel Phillips, to a 1:53 2/5 victory for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese, and trotting colt B A Superhero, a son of Muscle Hill-Win Missy B bred by the late Robert J. Key, to a 1:55 1/5 decision for trainer Lucas Wallin and owner Winning Key Inc.

Villain, driven by trainer and co-owner Ake Svanstedt, captured a Reynolds colt and gelding trot in 1:56 at odds of 18-1. Villain, a Muscle Hill-High Heels colt bred by Diamond Creek Farm, is co-owned by Mellby Gard Inc.

--edited press release (Meadowlands)--