Tioga: Gingras sticks with Hannelore Hanover in battle with Ariana G

There’s a first time for everything and on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs the meeting between defending Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover and last year’s 3-year-old filly trotting queen Ariana G will finally happen. Ironically both champions will enter the $141,000 Joie De Vie coming off losing efforts on Hambletonian Day.

Caught in the middle of the collision is driver Yannick Gingras, the regular pilot for both horses throughout their brilliant careers, who had to make a choice for the first time.

“I’m going with Hannelore,” said Gingras on Thursday morning.

“It was a tough decision, no question about it,” said Gingras. “I’ve been with both for a long time but right now I think Hannelore Hanover is the best.”

Gingras not only believes she’s the best trotting mare in North America, he believes she’s the best trotter.

“I think there’s a couple of things I could have done differently last week,’ said Gingras about the third-place finish to male competition in the Cashman at The Meadowlands. “Starting from post 12 is never easy and we had her three wide at the half.”

Hannelore Hanover also had to travel an extra eighth of a mile, ultimately falling a little short and suffering her first 2018 defeat after six consecutive triumphs.

For this week at least, Hannelore Hanover will face just mares and she’s been fortunate to draw the rail against eight rivals in the Joie De Vie, race eight of 13 scheduled on Sunday afternoon.

Though Ariana G was dominant as a 3-year-old winning in 12 of her 15 starts, 2018 hasn’t been picture perfect for the daughter of Muscle Hill. She started the campaign losing two of her first three races, both sixth-place finishes. Ariana G went on to capture both the Graduate Series final and Hambletonian Maturity at The Meadowlands in July but missed three weeks prior to racing in the Steele Memorial on August 4 and finished fifth. Ariana G drew post four with Tim Tetrick picking up the driving assigment.

While Hannelore Hanover and Ariana G are the big names in the field on Sunday, there’s plenty of talent to go around and perhaps shock the top pair. Dream Together did just that with her 51-1 victory in the Steele for trainer Luc Blais and driver Bob McClure. The pair will be reunited for Sunday’s contest with Dream Together landing post five in the field of nine.

The $1.3 million winning Broadway Donna has captured three of her seven starts this year for trainer Jim Campbell and could be in fine striking position on Sunday having landed post three. David Miller will drive the daughter of Donato Hanover.

Trainer Trond Smedshammer’s Celebrity Ruth will need to step up her game a bit in the Joie De Vie. The conditioner has suggested in the past that his mare was as strong as any in the final quarter of a race and could win as long as she was close enough. With post two on Sunday, Celebrity Ruth will get that chance.

Tioga’s first race on Sunday starts at 1:00 p.m. with 13 races programmed including the $186,000 Crawford Farms trot and four eliminations for the Empire Breeders Classic.

The Crawford Farms attracted a field of 10 led by Will Take Charge (Tim Tetrick) from post three. Former Hambletonian winner Pinkman (post two, Gingras), JL Cruze and Obrigado are also signed on.

Click here for Sunday's entries from Tioga.