Team Steacy’s enigmatic star mare Sylvia Hanover continued in her rejuvenated form and added another victory in her renewed rivalry with Twin B Joe Fresh when reigning in a stretch battle to score a 1:48.2 win in the $193,056 Lady Liberty Grade 2 free-for-all mare pace on Saturday, Aug. 2 at The Meadowlands.
Kobes Gigi and Yannick Gingras pushed through a :26.4 first quarter to lead a backstretch chess match with Sylvia Hanover seated in the pocket for Tim Tetrick and Twin B Joe Fresh tracking her from third for Dexter Dunn. No one made a move to a :54.4 half but come the far turn, Tetrick made the move to attack with Sylvia Hanover. Twin B Joe Fresh nestled into the second-over spot on the charge to three-quarters in 1:22.1 and pulled off cover in the lane to take her shot at Sylvia Hanover. Tetrick raised the reins as Twin B Joe Fresh came to call and his charge responded, repelling Twin B Joe Fresh in the last eighth of a mile to win by 1-3/4 lengths. My Girl EJ and Todd McCarthy rallied to grab third from Kobes Gigi in fourth.
“I think my mare is better having somebody to race at her,” said Tetrick. “I could’ve maybe moved back to the front, but I thought Dexter might go after me then. I thought it was the right move to keep him on my back and I had pretty good faith in my mare that she could hold her off.”
A five-year-old mare by Always B Miki out of the dam Shyaway, Sylvia Hanover won her fourth race from seven starts this season and scored her second victory this year against Twin B Joe Fresh, who she upended with a 1:48.2 effort in late June to win the Perfect Sting. The darling of her division as a two and three-year-old, the former Canadian Horse of the Year Sylvia Hanover’s second counter punch came after Twin B Joe Fresh ruled their rivalry in dominant four-year-old season, which earned her U.S. Horse of the Year honours.
“I think she got a little bigger, a little stronger and she’s shown in the races,” said Ontario-based trainer Mark Steacy of Sylvia Hanover. “The people with [Twin B] Joe Fresh have a very friendly rivalry with us, and she’s a great mare too. To beat her makes it even that much more special.”
Sylvia Hanover, winning for the 25th time in 46 starts, has now earned more than $2.6 million for owner Hudson Standardbred Stable of Que. She was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
Sylvia Hanover paid $4 to win as the even-money second choice to Twin B Joe Fresh, favoured at 3-5.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)