Maven played giant killer on Tuesday afternoon thanks to her 12-1 upset over the multiple award-winning Check Me Out in one of four divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows
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In rein to Yannick Gingras, Maven got away third while Cocktail Attire was hustled through early fractions of :27.3 and :57.1. Gingras edged first over on the way to the half with Maven, and Check Me Out was tracking her cover from second over for trainer/driver Ray Schnittker. Gingras punched the throttle across the backstretch, and Maven quickly charged to the top and proceeded to take the trotting lasses to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1. Maven maintained the lead coming into the lane, and she used a :28.3 closing panel to keep the 1-9 favourite, Check Me Out, at bay by a comfortable margin. Cocktail Attire was a distant third in the stakes record-setting performance timed in 1:53.4.
“She’s always been a nice filly, although she wasn’t staked heavily last year,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “She’s always had the speed, but she’s stronger this year. Check Me Out has been so impressive that, to be honest with you, I thought I was racing for second. But around the last turn, I was really confident. The whole stretch, it wasn’t even an issue. I never had to urge her. I don’t know where she goes next, but wherever she goes, I’ll be there.”
It was an ultra-impressive 2012 debut for the three-year-old daughter of Glidemaster-M Stewart, who put together a 7-1-1 record from 11 starts as a freshman. Jonas Czernyson trains the career winner of 4186,858 for owner W J Donovan of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Superstar Hanover took the opening division for trainer/driver Jimmy Takter in 1:56.2. The daughter of Cantab Hall-Star Hanover watched from the pocket as By A Nose Hanover threw down early fractions of :27.4 and :57.1. Takter gave his filly first-over marching orders in the backstretch, and she showed the lead while parked at the three-quarter pole in 1:26. She coasted home in :30.2 to win by a comfortable margin over End Of Innocence, with third prize earned by Temple Blue Chip.
Christina Takter, John Fielding and Louie Camara share ownership on the four-time winner, who was sent off as the 1-5 favourite in her 2012 debut. The lion’s share of the $62,528 purse boosted the sophomore’s career earnings to $197,288.
Idonette turned in a career-best performance for driver John Campbell, who rallied the Henrik Lundell-trained daughter of Donato Hanover-Ivette to a 1:55.2 victory in her $62,528 division.
Idonette was parked by Bluff past the quarter pole in :29 before working her way to the lead. Race favourite Sand Violent Blue made her move in front of the grandstand, and she was allowed to clear without a tussle. Sand Violent Blu led through splits of :57.2 and 1:26.3, but she couldn’t fend off the re-rallying Idonette in the lane. Idonette muscled past that foe and drew clear to win in 1:55.2 as the 5/2 second choice in the wagering. Sand Violent Blu was next best, with Real Babe taking home the show dough.
“Physically, she’s as strong as anybody; I don’t think that’s a problem,” said Henrik Lundell, who conditions the youngster. “It’s just keeping her together and getting her around the turns. She’s sore a little here and there — nothing major. She just runs out in the stretch, and she runs in through the turns. I’m just crossing my fingers and hoping John can take care of that."
“She has so much pedigree, but she’s kind of over-achieved,” Palone said. “She was kind of an ugly duckling as a baby, but the pedigree always comes out. She came back as strong, as willing and as drivable as you’d ever want one.”
Sisyfos Racing Stable Inc of Jobstown, NJ owns the three-time winner, who now boasts a 2-1-0 record in her first three starts of the 2012 season. It was the biggest single payday for the filly, who bumped her lifetime earnings to $53,489 with the win.
On The Bright Side was a front-stepping winner in her $62,528 division for driver Dave Palone. The Cantab Hall-Passionate Glide miss sliced out fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:27 before uncorking a :28.1 closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:55.1. The 6-5 favourite defeated runner-up Blue Yonder and third-place finisher Delicious.
Jimmy Takter picked up the PASS training double with the Brittany Farms’ homebred, who went 2-for-5 last season. The victory in her 2012 debut helped boost her lifetime earnings to $89,139.
(With quotes from The Meadows)