A pair of Hanover Stakes put juvenile trotters on display last night at Balmoral Park, as a field of nine fillies battled for a purse of $50,300 while seven of their male counterparts slugged it out for a purse of $45,200.
In the filly tussle, La Bella Vita Stables, Robert Taylor & Kevin Dixon’s Illinois-bred sensation My Miss Caroline continued her dream season, as she romped home with a decisive seven and a half-length win in 2:00.0.
“She was really terrific tonight,” said Magee. “She was really into the bit once we got rolling on the outside and she just continued to pick them off despite the fact that I had one heck of a hold on her.”
Caviar’s Delight (driven by Mike Brink) rallied late to finish second, while Caitrin Hall (Mike Cox) finished third.
“In reality she had the toughest trip in the race but yet she still just left them standing there in the lane,” marveled Magee. “She’s been a pleasure to drive all year long and I’m thankful that trainer Robert Taylor, who did such a magnificent job with her all year long, gave me the chance.”
My Miss Caroline, who is now finished for the season, would have been undefeated this campaign if it weren't for her third-place finish in the American National. She went off as the 2-5 post-time favorite last night and returned $2.80, $2.40, $2.10. Despite the low win mutuel, My Miss Caroline capped off the biggest 50 Cent Pick payoff in Balmoral Park history with the winning combination of 8-1-7-4-7 returning a whopping $24,550.05!
The heavy favourite also prevailed in the colt division, as DM Stables and Bobby Brower’s Soulful Delight trotted away from his rivals in the lane for driver Mike Oosting to win by three and a quarter lengths in 1:58.3.
“I wasn’t really worried about having to come first over for that long,” explained Oosting. “With the way the wind was blowing the horses down along the inside on the backstretch were basically cutting there own miles as well.”
Oosting went on to say, “He was just sitting right there on the outside of Detailer in the stretch so I just spoke to him once. Then he just dropped his head about six inches and took off like a pacer. This is one very nice animal that Bobby’s got here.”
The 4-5 favourite returned $3.60, $2.20, $2.10.
(With files from Balmoral)