An early-afternoon deluge could not deter Hannelore Hanover ($2.10, part of entry) in Sunday (August 14) afternoon's $40,000 Miss Versatility preliminary at Tioga Downs, as she made easy work of her eight rivals with plenty in reserve at the end of a 1:52.4 mile.
Fresh off victories in the Armbro Flight, Hambletonian Maturity, and Fresh Yankee, the four-year-old Swan For All mare floated gently into third on approach to the first turn, allowing White Becomes Her (Scott Coulter) and Rules Of The Road (Jim Morrill Jr.) to dispute the terms through a :27.1 first quarter before making her bid to the fore with nine-sixteenths of the mile remaining. The Ron Burke trainee cleared White Becomes Her easily at the completion of a :56 half, and she subsequently responded to mild first-over pressure from Jewels In Hock (John Campbell) up the far side. After being nudged along through a :28.1 third sectional, Hannelore Hanover drew away gradually while in hand, posting a three and a quarter length victory over runner-up Jewels In Hock. Third-place finisher Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory) slid second-over on approach to the far turn and stayed on through the straight.
Yannick Gingras was once again in the bike behind Hannelore Hanover, who captured her 21st career win. The Burke Racing Stable, the Weaver Bruscemi partnership, and Frank Baldachino own the talented mare, whose career bankroll mounted to $922,258.
A pair of New York Sire Stakes events for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings shared center stage with the Miss Versatility preliminary, with American Passport ($10.80) and Roll Away Joe ($2.70) the victorious duo.
American Passport used a bold three-wide push on approach to the far turn to collar the duelling Missile J (Tim Tetrick) and Nox Vegas Bluechip (Jim Marohn Jr.), drawing off at will as the pace collapsed for a six-length, 1:51.4 win over the late-rallying Talk Show (Morrill) in the $60,200 fifth race. Scott Zeron drove the son of American Ideal for trainer Tony Alagna.
In the $59,100 sixth event, Roll Away Joe brushed to the fore with a circuit to go and narrowly held off a four-wide charge from 40-1 outsider Bottom Deals (Tetrick) to prevail by half a length in 1:51.3. Jim Morrill Jr. drove the Roll With Joe gelding for trainer Tracy Brainard.
(With files from Tioga Downs)