The 2010 Hanover Stakes season started with a bang last night at Balmoral Park, as Paula Smith and James Runyan’s Fox Valley Click took advantage of breaks by the two favourites, Action Broadway (1-5) and Southern Maebelle (6-1), then survived a long inquiry to post a 15-1 upset in the first of two $19,700 Hanover Stakes splits for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Sent right to the front by driver Dale Hiteman, the daughter of Vaporize--Fancy Creek Photo grabbed command of the proceedings as the field hit the opening quarter in :31.2.
With the leisurely pace continuing, driver Peter Wrenn elected to send Escrow Blue Chip to the front. The filly proceeded to lead the field through middle splits of 1:01 and 1:31. Meanwhile, Hiteman was enjoying the view from the pocket while a first-over Miss Brody (driven by Sam Widger) ranged up on the outside of horses.
Through the stretch a game Escrow Blue Chip continued to show the way, while Miss Brody tried to get to her. A patient Hiteman was still looming boldly with Fox Valley Click while awaiting room in the passing lane. Slipping down to the pylons, the Joel Smith-trained miss then found her best stride as she rolled by the pace setter to win by two and a quarter lengths in 2:00. Escrow Blue Chip held on for second, while Miss Brody was third.
The win was the second in 11 starts this season for Fox Valley Click, who returned a healthy $32.60, $10.00 and $15.00 while running her career earnings up to $54,156.
In the second division, Sawgrass Farms' Powerful Bella made it a clean sweep for the Illinois-breds in the Hanovers, as she scored by a well-measured two lengths in a lifetime best of 1:57.2.
Grabbing command from Post 2, driver Marcus Miller had Powerful Bella in front as she trotted through an opening split in :29.2.
Facing immediate pressure from a parked-out Yansky (Duke Sugg), the two fillies battled tooth and nail through a half-mile in :57.3.
Heading around the turn, Yansky finally cleared to the front, leaving Powerful Bella in the garden spot while Muscle Amour (Dan Shetler), who had been parked the mile, came ranging up in third.
Just after passing the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27, disaster struck for Yansky as she went off stride. That left a tired Muscle Amour to inherit the lead while Claires Rose (Peter Wrenn) staged a rally on the far outside. Meanwhile, Powerful Bella and Miller were just waiting for ample clearance from the breaking horse as they sat locked and loaded along the pylons. After finding the room she needed the Nelson Willis trainee came charging through inside of Claires Rose to post her third win in 10 starts this season. Claires Rose was a hard-trying second, while Riley Lynn (Sam Widger) rallied to be third.
The daughter of Powerful Emotion--Fox Valley Bella returned $6.20, $3.20 and $2.80 while pushing her career bankroll up to $46,550.
Freshman trotters were also in action on Wednesday’s card, as a field of 11 state-bred youngsters met in the $5,000 Psychic Spirit Stake.
Taking home the victory was Fox Valley Iliad, as he unleashed a powerful stretch kick to rally for a half-length triumph in a career best of 2:00.
Given a perfect steer by driver Peter Wrenn, the son of Vaporize--Memory Maker was reserved early then moved into a live outer flow as he rolled from fifth to first in the final quarter-mile to make it two for two in his brief career for trainer Homer Hochstetler. Powerful Charger (Todd Warren) was second, while the pace setting Hammer Head (Marcus Miller) held on for third.
The Hanover Stakes continue on Saturday night with 10 of the 14 races on the card featuring Hanover Stakes action for two-year-old colt pacers, two-year-old filly pacers, three-year-old colt pacers and three-year-old filly pacers sharing top billing. First-race post time for Saturday’s opener is 7:10 p.m. (central).
(Balmoral)