The three-year-old pacing filly division has been ultra-competitive thus far in 2019 and that's without hearing much from 2018 O'Brien Award winner Tall Drink Hanover.
Tall Drink Hanover wins the 2019 Shady Daisy at The Meadowlands. (Lisa Photo)
If her two most recent performances are any indication, the harness racing world will be hearing much more from her for the rest of the season. Tall Drink Hanover followed up her win in the Adioo Volo one week ago with a track record performance in the $100,362 Shady Daisy for three-year-old pacing fillies at The Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day.
Driver Andy McCarthy was intent on the lead, clearing from post four to the top early, yielding to Stonebridge Soul (Tim Tetrick) before a quick retake through a :26.4 opening quarter. Hitting the half without a challenge, Tall Drink Hanover was then confronted by stablemate Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn) through the third quarter, reached in 1:22. Warrawee Ubeaut was on the helmet of Dunn heading into the final turn but tipped into the three path to take aim at the pacesetter in the stretch. Tall Drink Hanover was in no mood for company, however, and sizzled home in :26 to hit the wire in a lifetime best 1:48. Trillions Hanover (David Miller) unleashed a vicious late kick but fell a half-length short with Warrawee Ubeaut nosing out Stonebridge Soul for third.
"I wanted to get around Yannick early, so then I had the cards in my hand. I let Timmy go and I thought I'll get back to the front and just keep an even pace and I didn't want to invite anyone to come," said McCarthy after the win. "I got to slow the third quarter down a touch, which worked out good and she dashed home.
"She's a great mare. We had a little bad luck earlier with post positions and whatnot but I think she's the best filly in the country and she'll finish it off.
Owned by trainer Tony Alagna's Alagna Racing LLC of Manalapan, N.J. along with Marvin Katz, of Toronto Ont. and Myron Bell's Riverview Racing LLC of Boynton Beach, Fl., Tall Drink Hanover now has wins in four of her eight seasonal starts. The win lifted her lifetime bankroll to $616,028.
Stay up-to-date with all the happenings from 2019 Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands in the 2019 Hambletonian Day News Centre