Two-year-old pacing filly Cowgirl Hanover avenged her first career lost to stablemate The Last Maritini in last week's New York Sire Stakes, landing back on top in the Vernon Downs leg early Friday evening, Aug. 23.
Doug McNair made the trip stateside to drive the favoured Jared Bako trainee in the $148,219 New York Sire Stakes. Cowgirl Hanover was quick off the gate from post five and sprinted a :26.2 opening quarter with The Last Martini (Jason Bartlett) shooting through from the inside and protecting pocket position while Fansville (Matt Kakaley) pursued out of post seven. Cowgirl Hanover yielded briefly to Fansville then retook the lead on the way to the half in :55.2. The Last Martini took her shot as they raced to three-quarters in 1:25 and those two took off turning for home with Cowgirl Hanover topping the 1-2 finish this week for the Bako stable, scoring in a career-best 1:52.2. Third prize went to late closer Shes A Streaker (Jordan Stratton).
Competing solely in the New York Sire Stakes, the daughter of Huntsville out of the Sportswriter mare Code One Hanover is now six-for-seven lifetime with purse earnings totalling $394,168 for owner NY Seb Inc.
Cowgirl Hanover paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 bettors' choice.
Jason Bartlett doubled up in the Excelsior Series winning a pair of $27,397 divisions with Feeling Right in 1:54.3 for trainer Nicholas Devita and Fashion Terror in 1:55 for the Mark Ford stable. The other division was won by J Glo and Leon Bailey in 1:56.1 for David Dewhurst. All three Excelsior winners took new lifetime marks.
(Standardbred Canada)