She didn’t have the best trip, but that certainly didn’t deter the talented three-year-old pacing filly Sylvia Hanover in the $420,000 Fan Hanover final, part of the stakes-laden North America Cup undercard on Saturday night (June 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The incredible daughter of Always B Miki recorded her third win in as many tries this year. Last season, she won eight of nine (second in the other) and Saturday's effort put her well over the $1 million mark in addition to tying the track, stakes and Canadian record of 1:48.2 established by American Jewel in 2012.
Sylvia Hanover and Bob McClure were looking for the lead early in the race, but Beach Cowgirl from post eight took control first and paced by the opening quarter in :26.4. McClure let Sylvia Hanover have her way as she did not want to sit and she was on top by the :55 half.
Sylvia Hanover had company in Twin B Joe Fresh nearing the 1:21.3 third panel, but dismissed that rival and could not be caught down the stretch as she went on to win easily in the record mile. Charleston got up to take second while Twin B Joe Fresh held for third.
“She likes a target [but she doesn’t need one],” said McClure. “Last year, she used to get lazy on the front. But she wasn’t sitting in that hole any more today. We got slowed up and she wanted to roll, I couldn’t let horses get outside me and take the chance of never getting out, so I took a shot.
“When she cleared the front and Dex [Dexter Dunn aboard Twin B Joe Fresh] came at her, she just did the rest on her own. She’s a very special horse, I just have to stay out of her way. I’ve never sat behind anything like her, she’s always going to give you everything she’s got."
Trainer Shawn Steacy certainly agreed with his driver’s sentiments.
“She’s an amazing animal," he said. "I don’t think she knows how to get tired, she’s incredible, I don’t know how else to put it. She can do things most normal horses can’t do.”
Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms (just like the race’s namesake), Sylvia Hanover was a $135,000 yearling buy from the Harrisburg Sale by Hudson Standardbred of Hudson, Que. She’s following in her mother’s footsteps as her dam, Shyaway, raced in the 2011 Fan Hanover eliminations and final for trainer Chris Ryder. Sylvia Hanover is her seventh foal, her first being $2 million winner Western Fame.
Introduced in 1983, the Fan Hanover Stakes is named in honour of the pacing filly who accomplished what no other sophomore distaffer has done before or since – win the Little Brown Jug. Owned by the Dr. Glen Brown, who passed away last year, and trained and driven by Glen Garnsey, the Albatross miss defeated her male rivals in the 1981 edition of the coveted race. Dr. Brown’s granddaughter, Jenna Hague, was on hand Saturday night to make the trophy presentation following in her grandfather’s tradition.
The 2023 Pepsi North America Cup featured a stacked undercard with a number of stakes and open class events. Recaps of the evening's other stakes are available below:
- Its My Show Wins 40th Pepsi North America Cup
- Records In Roses Are Red For Grace Hill
- Southwind Coors Claims Goodtimes In Tight Finish
- Abuckabett Hanover Wins Mohawk Gold Cup
- Stockade Seelster Sizzles In NA Cup Consolation
- Refined Upsets Bella Bellini In Armbro Flight
- Warrawee Vital Matches All-Age Canadian Record
For the results from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup night card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine)