Both Donna Soprano and Scarlett Hanover – the O’Brien Award winning two-year-old fillies of 2020 – were successful in qualifying races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Tuesday morning, as was the Dan Patch winner for two-year-old trotting fillies, Anoka Hanover.
Donna Soprano was successful in her morning session in 1:56.4, her back numbers :57.4 - :28.4 for driver Bob McClure, trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination. The daughter of Donato Hanover won five of seven as a freshman, trotted in 1:53.3 over Woodbine Mohawk Park, and was second to the fast colt Venerate in the Mohawk Million.
The O’Brien winner among last season’s freshman pacing fillies, Scarlett Hanover, also had a successful Tuesday at the riverside oval, triumphing in 1:52.4, last quarter :27.3, for driver David Miller, trainer Ron Burke, and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. The Bettors Delight miss won her Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and was 2-3 in the Breeders Crown.
Anoka Hanover, another daughter of Donato Hanover, won her second outing of the season on Tuesday in 1:56.1, coming her own back fractions in :56 - :27.4. A winner in 10-of-14 at two, including the Goldsmith Maid, Kindergarten Final, and both Lexington Grand Circuit stakes, Anoka Hanover was driven by Todd McCarthy for trainer Noel Daley, the latter co-owner with Caviart Farms, Crawford Farms Racing, and L. A. Express Stable LLC.
Fastest qualifier of the day came from the Betting Line three-year-old pacing filly Darby Hanover, who rallied off a fast pace to stop the timer in 1:52.1 for driver Andy Miller, trainer/wife Julie Miller, and the partnership of Andy Miller Stable Inc., Mr. Caroll Huffman, and Let It Ride Stables Inc. Darby Hanover had wins in the Simpson and Keystone Classic stakes last year, and she took three legs of the PA Stallion Series before finishing second in the final.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)