An early give-and-go proved the winning move for driver James MacDonald and Conversano, who rallied from an earned pocket to collar Walspea in the final 100 yards of the 55th edition of the $694,444 Hambletonian Oaks (Grade 1) for three-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday, Aug. 2 at The Meadowlands.
In line to MacDonald, the daughter of Muscle Hill out of Celebrity Ruth found herself in the middle of a three-filly scrum for the early lead, flanked on approach to the first turn by Sound Judgement (Kevin Oscarsson) and Aperfect Annie (Todd McCarthy), who cleared for a brief lead. After being looped, Conversano pushed forward to seize control at the end of a :27.1 first quarter, only to yield to Walspea (Trond Smedshammer) — who brushed out of midfield upon reaching the backstretch — with five-eighths to go.
As Walspea and Conversano raced one-two through middle fractions of :55 and 1:24.1, Sound Judgement made her second move, sustaining gradual first-over gains through the far turn to put mild pressure on the leader while towing Miss Belmar (Andy McCarthy) and Deja Blu (Yannick Gingras) into striking range for the stretch drive.
Walspea did rebuff Sound Judgement off the final turn, but Conversano had plenty left to emerge from the pocket in the last furlong and grind to the fore late in a lifetime-best 1:51.2 mile. Walspea held second, beaten a length. Delaney Hanover (Scott Zeron) rallied boldly off failing cover to eclipse Deja Blu for third, another three-quarters of a length back.
The Oaks wasn't even on MacDonald's radar until a week ago, when he drove Gigglingonthebeach to a second-place finish in a Tompkins-Geers division for trainer Juan Cano, who in turn found himself in need of a driver for Conversano when Andy McCarthy opted to remain with another Oaks elimination winner, Miss Belmar, for the final.
"It's just a case of right place, right time," said MacDonald, four-time defending Driver of the Year. "It wasn't even on my radar, and Juan came to me, 'Are you coming next week?' I said, 'I'll probably come for Gigglingonthebeach [in the Shady Daisy]. It's Hambo Day; I love being here.' He said, 'Maybe I'll put you on the one on the Oaks, too.' I was just shocked. Any time you can pick up a winner, it's unbelievable."
The Ontario-based MacDonald has enjoyed a flurry of recent success in major Meadowlands races, having won the 2024 Meadowlands Pace, with Legendary Hanover, and a pair of Breeders Crowns, with Coach Stefanos and Lady Landia.
Conversano is now a nine-time winner from 17 starts for breeder Joseph Parisi's Hot Lead Farm of Allentown, New Jersey. With the win, she nearly doubled her career earnings, surpassing $700,000.
Conversano, who won her Oaks elimination in 1:52.4 by a nose, paid $6.80 to win the final as the 2-1 favourite.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)