Vernon: Hat tricks for Hennessey, Ducharme in NY Excelsior A Series finals

Driver Wally Hennessey and trainer George Ducharme each had three wins in the $50,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series finals for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits on Saturday night at Vernon Downs.

In the 2-year-old filly pace, Hennessey tallied with Nadina Hanover in 1:54 1/5 for trainer Nifty Norman. He brushed her to the top before the 58 1/5 half and was able to fend off a determined first-over bid by American Jazz (Jason Bartlett) to get the win. Nadina Hanover, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and owned by Dune Road Stables LLC., hasn't missed the board in seven tries (3-2-2 record), and has now earned $49,450. She paid $12.60 to win.

Hennessey and Ducharme then joined forces to win the 2-year-old filly trot with Impact Jane, a daughter of E L Titan, in 1:56 2/5. Impact Jane made front, turned away Angels Folly (Trond Smedshammer) on the last turn, and held sway to win over Adjure Hanover (Braxten Boyd) by a length. Impact Jane broke her maiden in her sixth try and has now pocketed $38,050 for owner/breeder Howard Gill. She returned $19.60 to win.

One race later, Hennessey and Jovian, a Roll With Joe gelding, bagged the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace in 1:53 4/5 off a pocket trip. Jovian also picked up his first career victory and pushed his bankroll to $35,850. Curran Racing LLC. bred Jovian and co-owns him with trainer Eve Bergeron and Adam Friedland. He paid $17.20 to win.

Ducharme's other victories came with driver Tyler Buter. Therewasthisgirl, a daughter of So Surreal, was their first winner, as she cleared to the top past the half and went on to take the 3-year-old filly pace in 1:51 4/5. Ducharme also co-owns Therewasthisgirl, who was bred by Crawford Farms, with Heather Marshall. Therewasthisgirl now has five career triumphs, all of which have come in 2021, and she has now put away $61,765. She returned $2.30 to win.

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Buter and Ducharme then prevailed in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace with Isaac, an American Ideal colt who used a 27 2/5 final kicker to go from fourth at three-quarters to first at the wire, defeating Bolt Power (Bartlett) by a neck in 1:51 3/5. Isaac, bred by Connie Hochstetler, Homer Hochstetler, and South Of The Tracks Racing Inc., is owned by Amy Cable. Isaac made his eighth appearance in the winner's circle and has now stashed away $81,117. He paid $19.80 to win.

The 2-year-old colt and gelding trot went to Debs Prince Hall, driven by trainer Alek Chartrand. Debs Prince Hall cut the fractions and fended off pocket-sitter Southwind Rifle (Brian Cross) to win by a neck in 1:59 2/5. Debs Prince Hall, a Conway Hall colt who has three wins, three seconds, and a third and a bankroll of $61,423, is owned by breeder Richard Vale. Debs Prince Hall returned $7.40 to win.

Chapolier, driven by Jordan Stratton for trainer Lance Hudson and owner William Hartt, led early, yielded to sit in the pocket before the half, and got up in the stretch to take the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot in 1:54 2/5. Chapolier, a Chapter Seven gelding who was making his debut for these connections, picked up his third lifetime win and now shows earnings of $64,049. He paid $9.00 to win.

Cindy Michelle, a daughter of E L Titan, converted from second-over in the 3-year-old filly trot, scoring by a quarter of a length in 1:56 for trainer-driver John Stark Jr. and owners Peter Barbato and Sam Bova Racing LLC. Cindy Michelle, who was bred by Southwind Farms, was unraced at 2, but has eight wins, a second, and two thirds in 2021. She has now banked $64,382 and returned $4.00 to win.