Sylvia Hanover waited over a half-mile to make her move, but when Tim Tetrick said "go," she paced her way into the record books by setting a new world record for a pacing mare over a five-eighths mile track in as she won the $136,986 Clara Barton Distaff Pace for the second consecutive year at Plainridge Park on Sunday, July 20.
Sylvia Hanover got away fifth as Valar Dohaeris (Yannick Gingras) parked Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) to the quarter in :25.3. As the dust settled there, Dexter Dunn made his move to the front with 1-9 favourite Twin B Joe Fresh, and she was on top passing the half in :53.2.
Twin B Joe Fresh was pacing sharply on the lead, but Tetrick was then out and rolling with Sylvia Hanover, and the two mares hooked up at three-quarters in 1:20.1. Twin B Joe Fresh and Sylvia Hanover paced stride-for-stride around the last turn and into the stretch, where Sylvia Hanover started to separate from the field and bolted home to a 4-1/2-length triumph in 1:47.2. My Girl Ej (Scott Zeron) got by Twin B Joe Fresh in the stretch for second. Twin B Joe Fresh held third.
(Helmet camera video of Tim Tetrick driving Sylvia Hanover courtesy Jessica Hallett)
The time of 1:47.2 was a new world record for a pacing mare on a five-eighths mile track. The previous record was 1:48 set by Somwherovrarainbow (2014) and Shartin N (2019). It was also the fastest pacing mile by a mare in 2025 over any size track, surpassing Twin B Joe Fresh’s Mark of 1:48.1, a new stake record for the Barton, a new all-time track pacing record at Plainridge Park, and a new lifetime mark for the winner.
The Mark Steacy-trained Sylvia Hanover raised her career earnings to $2,518,517 with her 24th win in 45 starts. The Always B Miki-Shyaway mare, Canada's 2023 Horse of the Year, is owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que. She paid $10.20 to win.
It was the sixth Clara Barton victory for Tim Tetrick in the seven-year history of the race. He previously won twice with Shartin N, twice with Lyons Sentinel, and now twice with Sylvia Hanover.
Ake Svanstedt put Up Your Deo in the perfect spot early and handled him masterfully through adversity late to upset the field at 16-1 in the $342,466 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot.
After an early tussle, Lexus Kody (Yannick Gingras) was first to the quarter in :26.4, but Logan Park (Doug McNair) quickly left the pocket and took the lead as the race went to the half in :54.4. Logan Park trotted smartly on the point going up the backside as Chapercraz (Nick Graffam) moved first-over into contention, and things got close after that.
As the race entered the last turn, Logan Park was still in front, but Lexus Kody came off the pegs and moved to the outside. Periculum (Scott Zeron) also swung three-deep from the back of the pack and Up Your Deo moved into fourth right behind Lexus Kody. When the trotters turned for home, Lexus Kody was moving to the lead with Periculum outside of him, but then Lexus Kody made a break and crossed over in front of Up Your Deo, who had just found clear racing room. Despite the interference, Svanstedt grabbed and steadied his trotter without missing a stride and then chased down Periculum in deep-stretch to win by a quarter-length in 1:51, tying his lifetime mark. Ari Ferrari J (Brett Beckwith) was elevated to third as Lexus Kody was disqualified to last.
On the strength of the win, Up Your Deo ($35.20) pushed his career earnings to $1,104,466. The son of Walner-Grand Stand is owned by his trainer-driver Svanstedt, in partnership with Suleyman Yuksel Stables I of Delray Beach, Fla., Deo Volente Farms LLC of Flemington, N.J., and Van Camp Trotting Corp of Port Perry, Ont. He is now eight-for-36 lifetime.
It was the second Spirit of Massachusetts Trot victory for Svanstedt, who also won it in 2022 with Alrajah One IT.
In the $102,740 Bert Beckwith Memorial Invitational, Vintage Cheddar N (Dexter Dunn) took the lead after the quarter in :26.3 and controlled the race from there. After getting to the half in :53.3 and three-quarters in 1:21, Vintage Cheddar N turned for home and held off the fast-closing Two Fold Cold (David Ingraham) and Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:48.3.
The time was a new track record for aged pacing geldings and a new lifetime mark for Vintage Cheddar N. The 10-year-old son of Betterthancheddar-Howfarnow has won 26 of 90 career outings and earned $386,533. Amanda Kelley trains and co-owns him with VIP Internet Stable LLC. He returned $5.40 to win.
Sweet Jeff Ir ($16.80) took the $68,493 John Hogan Memorial, getting by Virtual Horizon from the pocket to score by a quarter-length in 1:50.2. Nick Graffam piloted the five-year-old Sweet Lou-Maddi gelding for trainer Joseph Nelson and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, July 21 at 4 p.m.
(With files from Plainridge Park)