Paulina Hanover hadn’t been on top at any call in her last six starts, yet she led every step — and matched the 1:52 stakes record — in her  $96,485 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes division at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Thursday, Aug. 29. Sambuca Hanover captured the other division in the event, known as the Stenographer, for sophomore filly trotters.

Elista Hanover, who had won 10 of 13 races this year and was seeking a sweep of the four PASS preliminary legs, shaped up as the filly to beat. Tim Tetrick, aboard Paulina Hanover, said he sneaked a peak at Elista Hanover and her driver, David Miller, to help him plan his own strategy.

“I had a couple audibles in my head,” said Tetrick. “She’s been racing so good, and we had an outside draw with the slanted gate. When I saw that Dave was kind of taking his filly off the gate, I thought it was time to try the front. She’s been raging at the wire every week — not reaching, but raging so good that I thought it was time to try.”

Once on the point. Paulina Hanover faced no serious challenges. Elista Hanover rallied first over from fourth but fell two lengths short while Draw The Line finished third. The time equaled the Stenographer mark established by Sister Sledge in 2020. Noel Daley trains Paulina Hanover, a daughter of Father Patrick-Personal Style who now boasts a career bankroll of $311,920, for John Schmucker, Maumee River Stables, Steve Stewart and Hickory Hollow Stables.

Sambuca Hanover sat a chilly third, primed for the Lightning Lane. When she found it, she poured through with minimal urging from Miller, triumphing in 1:54.4. Early leader Upallnight Hanover was second, beaten a head, with Youhadmeathalo third.

“She felt strong, and she was trotting through the lane,” Miller said of the daughter of Bar Hopping-Snow Angel Hanover. “I did get her plugs out and chased her a little bit down by the wire. I felt like she would get there. The addition of Lasix for her last start really helped her.”

Nifty Norman conditions Sambuca Hanover, who now sports over $481,000 in career earnings, for David McDuffee, Paul Bordogna and Melvin Hartman.

PA Stallion Series Three-Year-Old Filly Trot

Ciao Time and PJs Dream each took a $27,027 split in Thursday’s sub-feature.

Ciao Time vacated the pocket and attacked the leader, 1-5 favourite Happy Chopper, in the lane. It wasn’t at all clear that she would get by, but she surged at the wire to down Happy Chopper by three parts of a length in a career-best 1:54.4 for her third straight victory. Vickis Moni completed the ticket.

“She gives you that feeling that she never wants to let you down,” said winning driver Mike Wilder. “She got the right trip, but that’s what it takes sometimes.”

Dana Kahrig trains the daughter of Possess The Will-Ciao Dough for Kahrig Racing Stable Co. and Christian Apel.

Friday’s program at The Meadows, the final twilight card of the year, features a pair of stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers: a PA Sires Stake with $155,371 USD split over three divisions and a pair of $20,000 USD PA Stallion Series dashes. First post is 5:10 p.m.

(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)