Tioga: Hen Party, Merga Hanover tally in NY Sire Stakes

Hen Party and Merga Hanover picked up the victories in the two $59,000 New York Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old pacing fillies that were held on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

Coming off a sire stakes win at Yonkers, Hen Party (Andrew McCarthy) was the odds-on choice in the first grouping, and she didn't disappoint, prevailing in 1:52. She brushed from third to first after the 27 3/5 opening quarter, reached the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24, and kept clear over pocket-sitter Alleyesonme AS (Scott Zeron) to the wire, scoring by a pair of lengths. Rapunzel Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett) collected third.

A daughter of Roll With Joe, Hen Party is trained by Tony Alagna for owner Crawford Farms Racing. This was her fifth career win, and she has now earned $229,316. She paid $2.70 to win.

In the other division Racine Bell (Bartlett) shot to the lead from post six and led through opening-half panels of 27 and 55 4/5 while Merga Hanover (Matt Kakaley) followed along in the pocket. 1-9 favorite So Rude (Joe Bongiorno) began a first-over move out of third before the half, and she moved up on the rim to within a neck of Racine Bell at three-quarters, which was posted in a blazing 1:22 1/5.

So Rude and Racine Bell continued to duel around the last turn, but So Rude forged her way past off the bend, though under urging. Meanwhile, Kakaley had waited patiently with Merga Hanover until the top of the lane when he angled her three-wide, and though So Rude had the jump on her, the battle with Racine Bell took its toll late, with Merga Hanover rallying by to take the victory by a quarter of a length in 1:51 1/5. Dragon Roll (Jim Morrill Jr.) got up for third.

Ron Burke trains Merga Hanover, a filly by American Ideal, for owners Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon, Joe Sbrocco, and W.J. Donovan. Merga Hanover is now a seven-time winner, and she has put away $203,829. A 19-1 shot, she returned $41.20 to win.