Busy Miss Lissy S put up a fourth win in as many starts as the Ake Svanstedt-trained and -driven daughter of Calgary Games-Hills Angel S took a $34,722 division of the third leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old filly trotters in 1:57 on Saturday, Aug. 23 at The Meadowlands.
She was parked past the quarter as Frattina Diablo S (Mark Herschberger) had the lead at that station in :28.1. Busy Miss Lissy S then took over and led the field past the half in :59.4 and three-quarters in 1:29.4 before going on to a measured neck win over a fast-closing Denarius (Dave Miller). Frattina Diablo S held third.
“She hasn’t lost a race yet,” said Svanstedt. “When they came around the far turn, she was easy. She has a big heart and proved that tonight.”
As the 4-5 favourite, Busy Miss Lissy S returned $3.60 to her backers. She has earned $53,532 for owner/breeder Panamera Racing of Denmark.
In the $83,333 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund Final for sophomore colt-and-gelding trotters, the Nancy Takter-trained Top Gun Hanover mowed down his foes after a tough first-over trip to win in 1:53.3.
The son of Walner-Think Twice had gone off stride in three of his last four outings, so Takter went back to the drawing board.
“Nancy made some changes and put him back the way he was,” said winning driver Dave Miller. “I felt more confident and the trip went well.”
Popping out of the three-hole after sitting through :27.4 and :56.4 early splits, Top Gun Hanover gradually wore down leader Go Ahead Makemyday (Andy Miller), who had led the field past three-quarters in 1:25.4, before holding off Camera Man (Svanstedt) at the wire by a neck. Top Floor Tactics (Colin Kelly) finished third.
Top Gun Hanover is now three-for-15 lifetime with earnings of $152,859 for owners E Five Racing of Boca Raton, Fla. and John Fielding of Scarborough, Ont.
Sent to the gate as the 3-1 third choice, Top Gun Hanover paid $8.
Walspea ($2.10) took the $83,333 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund Final for three-year-old trotting fillies, charging to victory after a three-high swoop in 1:53.2 for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer. The daughter of Walner-Speak To Me is now six-for-16 lifetime for Purple Haze Stables LLC and M3 Racing Stable.
Waldon Fashion ($4.80) captured the second $34,722 Kindergarten Series division for rookie trotting fillies in 1:56.3. Braxten Boyd piloted the Walner-Broadway Donna miss for trainer Jim Campbell and owner Fashion Farms LLC.
On Heir ($3.80) won the sole $34,722 Kindergarten dash for two-year-old filly pacers in 1:52.4 with Andrew McCarthy steering the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Delightful Dragon for trainer Noel Daley and owners Patricia Stable, Douglas Sipple, Lenny Zelin, and The Gandolfo Stables.
The $34,722 Kindergarten contest for freshman pacing males went to Watch Em Win ($7), who scored in 1:53.2 with Herschberger in the bike of the Ron Burke-trained son of Hes Watching-Winners Over for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Mothers Moni scored in 1:56.1 in the $34,722 Kindergarten Series two-year-old colt trot event held as non-betting race before the main card. Dave Miller drove the son of International Moni-Mother Teresa for trainer Domenico Cecere and owner K R Breeding LLC.
Perfect Sting offspring swept the night's $62,500 Renaissance Finals, starting with Perfect Thought ($3.60), who romped in the final for rookie pacing fillies in 1:54.1. Corey Callahan took the lines of the filly out of Think Pink for trainer Megan Scran and The Stable's Perfect Thought group.
The final for two-year-old male pacers, a non-wagering event, went to Everlast Sting Deo (out of Little Miss K), who stopped the clock in 1:53.1 for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Travis Alexander, and owner Morrison Racing Stables.
It was a big night for the husband and wife duo of trainer Shane and driver Lauren Tritton, as the pair combined to win three races on the night to lead the trainer and driver colonies, respectively. They won the opener with Rydingtothewire ($15.80), the sixth race with Springsteen ($10.40), and the 12th with Hypebeast ($16.60). Shane Tritton has harnessed 39 winners this season
All-source handle on the 15-race program totaled $2,437,284.
Racing returns to the usual Friday and Saturday schedule next week. Post time is 6:20 p.m. There are three weeks left in the harness meeting at The Big M before Thoroughbred turf racing comes to the mile oval for a four-week stand.
(With files from The Meadowlands)