Fancy Filly lived up to the toteboard hype en route to capturing the $500,000 Three Diamonds in a World Record clocking of 1:51.1 on Sunday afternoon
at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack.
The two-year-old daughter of Western Hanover-Fanciful Hanover took over command shortly past the mid-way point of the mile and then fended off a stern challenge from Casino Nights to produce her eighth win of the 2009 campaign in just nine attempts.
Western Moonlight secured the early lead by stepping the field to the quarter-pole in :27.2. She relinquished command when Native Doll blasted to the top as the field paced by the grandstand. Native Doll held a short lead over Fancy Filly and Brian Sears, who applied first-over pressure on the leader to the half-mile marker in :55.2.
Fancy Filly cleared without a tussle but she quickly came under attack from Casino Nights, who prompted the pacesetter to the three-quarter pole in 1:23. Fancy Filly dug in down the lane and drew clear to win by a comfortable margin in a stunning time of 1:51.1 over Casino Nights. Full Picture was a well-beaten third.
"It worked out well," commented winning trainer George Teague, Jr. "She found a good spot, but she had to work to get the front. On the last turn I thought she was in great shape. At that point, training down, she's always got a little more to give, and she proved that again today."
The 1:51.1 performance by the George Teague, Jr. trainee knocked two-fifths of a second off the former mark shared by Voelz Hanover (Hiawatha Horse Park – 2007) and Hawaiian Drink (Dover Downs – 2008).
George Teague, Jr. Inc., Ted Gewertz and Only Money Inc. share ownership on Fancy Filly, who upped her lifetime earnings to $495,401.
(Quotes from Harrah's Chester Racetrack)