Georgia Hanover continued her successful ascent back to the $15,000 top-tier Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Century Mile on Friday, Oct. 30.
Sent to the gate as the 1-2 favourite with Dave Kelly catch-driving off a Preferred 2-level triumph a week ago, Georgia Hanover fired to the front over inside leaver Byby Baby Byby (Mike Hennessy), who remained hot on her heels through a :27.1 opening quarter and a rated half in :56.3. As the mares headed for the final turn, Poker Queen (Phil Giesbrecht) rushed first-over from fourth to get within a half-length of the leader as they raced by three-quarters in 1:26.1 and headed down the stretch. Meanwhile, Byby Baby Byby desperately searched for racing room and finally emerged with enough clearance as Poker Queen let up, but it was too late. Georgia Hanover finished a half-length in front of that foe, winning in 1:54.1 over the "good" track, while 40-1 longshot Miss Dilly Dali (Kelly Hoerdt) sped up the inside for third.
A two-time Mares Preferred winner this past summer at Century Downs, the four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Get Lucky mare Georgia Hanover has now won three races in a row and one-third of her 21 starts this season. Unraced as a two-year-old, she boasts a career record reading 13-7-5 from 39 starts with earnings totalling $113,554 for trainer/owner Chris Lancaster.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Mile.
(Standardbred Canada)