Plainridge: Sylvia Hanover lowers world record in Clara Barton blowout

Sylvia Hanover became harness racing's all-time fastest female on a five-eighths-mile track with a powerful 1:47 2/5 victory from first-over in the Grade 3 $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff for older pacing mares on Sunday at Plainridge Park.

Valar Dohaeris (Yannick Gingras) and Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) battled for the top spot in a 25 3/5 opening quarter before Turn The Page N relented and went into the pocket. As soon as that skirmish was over, Dexter Dunn brought Twin B Joe Fresh to the outside from third and she took control on the way to the 53 2/5 half-mile marker.

Shortly after the half, Tim Tetrick put Sylvia Hanover in motion first-over from fifth, and she was tracked by My Girl EJ (Scott Zeron). Sylvia Hanover made it into second on the rim as Twin B Joe Fresh clicked off three-quarters in an arduous 1:20 1/5 and sustained her bid to get onto even-terms with the defending Horse of the Year on the last turn.

At the top of the stretch, Sylvia Hanover put away Twin B Joe Fresh, and while Twin B Joe Fresh tired, Sylvia Hanover just kept pouring it on, widening to tally by 4 1/2 lengths. My Girl EJ also got up for second, followed by Twin B Joe Fresh, Valar Dohaeris, Talk Curdy To Me (Brett Beckwith) and Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing).

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The time of 1:47 2/5 bettered the previous mark for a female on a five-eighths-mile track of 1:48 that had been shared by 4-year-old Somwherovrarainbow (May 25, 2014 at Pocono) and 6-year-old Shartin N (September 1, 2019 at Harrah's Philadelphia). Tetrick was also the winning driver in both of those miles.

"I think she speaks for herself. She just ran off in 1:47 2/5 and beat arguably the best mare in the country," Tetrick said. "Today we got the better of Twin B Joe Fresh, but Sylvia Hanover's a great mare in her own right."

Mark Steacy trains Sylvia Hanover, a 5=year-old Always B Miki mare, for owner Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. She now has a summary of 24-12-3 from 45 career starts, has earned $2,006,598 and paid $10.20 to win as the 4-1 second choice.

In the companion $75,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Invitational, Vintage Cheddar N (Dunn) took over the top spot past the 26 3/5 quarter and went on to a 1:48 3/5 victory, defeating Two Fold Cold (David Ingraham) by three-quarters of a length in 1:48 3/5. Tenzing Bromac N (Cushing) collected third.

A 10-year-old gelding by Betterthancheddar, Vintage Cheddar N is co-owned by Amanda Kelley with VIP Internet Stable LLC. Vintage Cheddar N made his 26th appearance in the winner's circle, has banked $335,843 and returned $5.40 to win.