Trainer David Menary has a pair of newcomers in his barn and hopes to start them off on a winning note in a pair of stakes engagements to be held Thursday and Friday at Woodbine Racetrack.
Newly acquired Envious Hanover will begin in the Niagara Series for pacing fillies, while Americhi will contest the Valedictory on Friday for pacing colts and geldings.
Envious Hanover, a daughter of Western Ideal, will look for her third straight score when she begins in the $15,000 opening round.
The talented pacing filly will also debut new owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Lawrence Karr.
Envious Hanover will begin from Post 6 in the first dash on Thursday for regular pilot Billy Davis Jr.
“She certainly seems like one of the better fillies in the series,” said Menary. “Burke’s (Burke Racing Stable LLC) and horse agent Marc Reynolds put the deal together and I’m just happy to have her in the barn.”
Envious Hanover certainly has made her impact on the WEG circuit over the past few months with her best racing of the season. The bay has sported a 2-2-0 record from her last five starts.
“She’s been improving with every start and developing into a nice filly,” Menary said. “I spoke to Billy (Davis Jr.) last week and he was really impressed with her latest win and how good she was on the front end. She has terrific gate speed and that comes in very handy at Woodbine.”
Just a $5,500 yearling purchase in the 2011 Harrisburg Yearling Sale, Envious Hanover was developed and co-owned by William Allan McNeil of Nova Scotia, before being sent to partner Mike Brealey in Ontario.
The four-time winner has banked $31,590 in her career along with a 1:53 lifetime best taken last week.
Looking ahead to Thursday, Menary remains optimistic about his filly that has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite.
“She’s had a good week and certainly [belongs] in there,” he said. “A seven-horse field never hurts our chances, either. She’ll put in a good showing of herself, and, like I said, she continues to improve, so hopefully that continues.”
The second $15,000 leg will go postward on Thursday, December 19.
The Niagara Series is for three-year-old fillies that were non-winners of $50,000 in lifetime purse earnings as of October 31.
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at Woodbine, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Woodbine Racetrack.
Americhi, also owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, has shipped north to Menary to contest the opening $15,000 round of the Valedictory Series on Friday evening.
The talented five-time winner was a recent private purchase from Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Matthew Kakaley and Stable 45.
“I watched his latest race at Chester and despite finishing second that was a super impressive mile,” Menary said. “I’ve been looking forward to getting him up here for this series and he has a terrific shot not only to win this leg, but to win the series.”
With earnings of $63,271 and a 5-4-1 record from 15 career starts along with a 1:51.3 career triumph, Americhi certainly brings a level of consistency onto the racetrack.
“He’s made a terrific impression on me so far and this series fits him very well,” Menary said. “He’s a late bloomer and very versatile and it’s nice to see that we drew well.
“He’s got a ton of speed and settled in really nice,” Menary continued. “He was trained up well before he shipped here and he seems ready for Friday.”
Jody Jamieson will guide the son of American Ideal from Post 1.
The second $15,000 leg will take place on Friday, December 20.
The Valedictory Series is for three-year-old fillies that were non-winners of $50,000 in lifetime purse earnings as of October 31.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at Woodbine, click the following link: Friday Entries – Woodbine Racetrack.
Both $30,000 (added) finals are scheduled for Woodbine’s Boxing Day card (December 26), which holds a special 1:00 p.m. first-race post time.
(WEG)