Red Mile: Darlene Hanover delivers in return to racing

Darlene Hanover, making her first appearance since winning the Jim Doherty Memorial on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, grabbed a new lifetime mark of 1:53 4/5 in taking a $40,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes division for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Monday afternoon at The Red Mile.

Lady Chaos (David Miller), who won last week in Kentucky Sires Stakes action and was a perfect three-for-three to start her career, was a runaway today, leading through an opening quarter in 27 and a half in 54. She began to tire on the far turn but clung to a narrow lead at the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters over Empressive Hill (Dewayne Minor), who squeezed out two-wide from the pocket. Meanwhile, Darlene Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) was in traffic behind the top two and also a stalled A Perfect Dutchess (Dexter Dunn).

McCarthy was able to thread the needle and found Darlene Hanover room between Empressive Hill and A Perfect Dutchess coming off the far turn, and she finished well once she got clearance, rallying to win by a length. Empressive Hill was a good second at 36-1, and Beautiful Game (Mark MacDonald) went from sixth to third in the last quarter. Lady Chaos wound up fourth.

Brett Bittle trains Darlene Hanover, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owner Yankeeland Partners LLP. Darlene Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and went for $130,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale, has three wins and a second from five starts and has pocketed $199,942. Darlene Hanover is the first foal out of the unraced Cantab Hall mare Danielle Hanover, a half-sister to Donato Hanover (1:50 1/5, $3,002,922) and also to Here Comes Herbie (Credit Winner, 1:52, $366,419). Darlene Hanover was the favorite and paid $3.80 to win.

Dutiful (Dexter Dunn) backed up her Kentucky Sires Stakes win from last Monday this week, taking the first grouping for filly trotters in 1:55. Dutiful went right to the top from post five, set fractions of 28 2/5, 58, and 1:26 4/5, and prevailed by 5 1/4 lengths over The Queen B (Joe Bongiorno). Spring Dreams (Scott Zeron) took third.

A daughter of Trixton, Dutiful is trained by Jonas Czernyson for owner Menhammar Stuteri AB. Dutiful, bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms and acquired for $45,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has pocketed $42,000 to go with her pair of victories. She's the first foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Sarcy (1:53 1/5, $261,333), and the grand-dam is 2003 Hambletonian Oaks champion Southwind Allaire (Valley Victory, 1:53 4/5, $733,534). Dutiful returned $10.60 to win.

Two-year-old colt and gelding trotters raced in one $40,000 dash, and Venerate (Andy Miller) posted panels of 27 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:25 1/5, then came home in 27 3/5 to win by 2 1/4 lengths in a life's-best 1:52 4/5. Cricket Fashion (Dunn) was the runner-up, and Iznogoud AM (Brian Sears) checked in third. Dancinginthedark M (Dave Palone) was the 2-5 favorite after winning in 1:52 3/5 last Monday at The Red Mile, but he made a break early on the far turn and finished last today.

Venerate, a colt by Love You, is trained by Julie Miller for owners Pinske Stables and Andy Miller Stable Inc. Venerate hasn't missed the board in four tries (2-0-2 record), and he has stashed away $63,766. Venerate, who was bred by Steve Stewart and Kemppi Stable, was hammered down for $90,000 at the 2019 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He's the first foal out of the Muscle Hill mare Peaceful Kemp (2:02 4/5, $3,356), a full sister to Trixton (1:50 3/5, $947,057) and a half-sister to Impressive Kemp (Credit Winner, 1:54 3/5, $501,074). Venerate was an 18-1 shot and paid $38.00 to win.