“I think she will be better this week. She had the outside last week and I decided to leave with her and she got used a little bit early. That’s really not her style. This week, if I can get away close I think I’ll be in good shape. She surprises us all the time.”
Uffizi Hanover won the biggest race of her career so far at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, the 2013 Breeders Crown for two-year-old female pacers, after losing the previous week.
David Miller is hoping for a repeat storyline this weekend.
Last weekend, Uffizi Hanover finished second to Cinamony in her elimination for Saturday’s $300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial for three-year-old female pacers. The filly started from Post 7 and raced to the front in a :54.4 opening half-mile before losing the lead in the stretch.
The Jimmy Takter trainee has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite this weekend and will start from Post 1 with driver David Miller. Horses from Post 1 have a 14.5 win percentage at Pocono Downs, compared to 7.6 per cent from Post 7.
Prior to last weekend’s elimination, Uffizi Hanover led at the halfway point in just one of her previous 15 career starts. She also finished second in that race.
“I think she will be better this week,” Miller said. “She had the outside last week and I decided to leave with her and she got used a little bit early. That’s really not her style.
“This week, if I can get away close I think I’ll be in good shape. She surprises us all the time.”
Saturday’s stakes-laden card at Pocono Downs also includes the $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial for three-year-old pacers, the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for three-year-old trotters, the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace for older pacers, and the $100,000 Sun Invitational for older trotters.
Post time for the first race is 6:30 p.m. The Sun Invitational has been carded as Race 8 and will be followed by the four stakes.
Uffizi Hanover has won four of 16 lifetime starts and earned $594,500 for owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband. She entered her Lynch elim off a victory in the Fan Hanover Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on June 14.
Fancy Desire and Weeper, who won the other two Lynch eliminations, are 3-1 and 4-1, respectively, on the morning line for the final. Fancy Desire drew Post 4 and Weeper got Post 8. Cinamony will start from Post 6 and is 6-1 on the morning line.
The field for the Sun Invitational and the other Sun Saturday stakes events appear below.
Race 8
$100,000 Sun Invitational
(Post. Horse, Driver, Trainer, Morning Line Odds)
1. Arch Madness, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer, 10-1
2. Sevruga, Ron Pierce, Julie Miller, 5-1
3. Market Share, Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano, 7-2
4. Amigo Ranger, Simon Allard, Rene Allard, 12-1
5. Archangel, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 6-1
6. Modern Family, Dave Palone, Daryl Bier, 3-1
7. Sebastian K, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 2-1
Race 9
$300,000 Lynch Memorial
(Post. Horse, Driver, Trainer, Morning Line Odds)
1. Uffizi Hanover, David Miller, Jimmy Takter, 5-2
2. Sayitall BB, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 5-1
3. Also Encouraging, Brett Miller, Casie Coleman, 15-1
4. Fancy Desire, George Napolitano Jr., Kevin Carr, 3-1
5. Southwind Silence, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 10-1
6. Cinamony, Corey Callahan, Alex Rice Jr., 6-1
7. Gallie Bythe Beach, John Campbell, Jim Campbell, 12-1
8. Weeper, Dave Palone, Kelly O’Donnell, 4-1
9. My Lady Day, Tim Tetrick, Joe Holloway, 20-1.
Race 10
$500,000 Hempt Memorial
(Post. Horse, Driver, Trainer, Morning Line Odds)
1. Cammikey, Brian Zendt, Bill Zendt, 6-1
2. Allstar Partner, Corey Callahan, John Butenschoen, 12-1
3. McWicked, David Miller, Casie Coleman, 5-2
4. Sometimes Said, John Campbell, Jim Campbell, 4-1
5. At Press Time, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 5-1
6. Stevensville, Tim Tetrick, Ray Schnittker, 20-1
7. Bushwacker, Ron Pierce, Chris Ryder, 15-1
8. All Bets Off, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 3-1
9. Limelight Beach, Brian Sears, Brian Brown, 10-1
Race 11
$500,000 Franklin Pace
(Post. Horse, Driver, Trainer, Morning Line Odds)
1. Bettors Edge, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 12-1
2. Allstar Legend, Scott Zeron, Ron Burke, 15-1
3. Foiled Again, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 4-1
4. Sweet Lou, Ron Pierce, Ron Burke, 5-2
5. Domethatagain, Simon Allard, Rene Allard, 10-1
6. Bolt The Duer, Mark MacDonald, Peter Foley, 5-1
7. Captive Audience, David Miller, Corey Johnson, 20-1
8. Captaintreacherous, Tim Tetrick, Tony Alagna, 3-1
9. Sunshine Beach, Brian Sears, Mark Steacy, 6-1
Race 12
$500,000 Beal Jr. Memorial
(Post. Horse, Driver, Trainer, Morning Line Odds)
1. Amped Up Hanover, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 10-1
2. Nuncio, John Campbell, Jimmy Takter, 3-1
3. Harper Blue Chip, Brian Sears, Mark Steacy, 5-1
4. Don Dorado, Tim Tetrick, Robert Baggitt Jr., 4-1
5. Outburst, Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, 15-1
6. Well Built, Jim Meittinis, Chris Ryder, 20-1
7. Datsyuk, Charlie Norris, Charlie Norris, 6-1
8. Father Patrick, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 5-2
9. Sumatra, Brett Miller, Tom Fanning, 12-1
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.