World Champions Southwind Tempo and Hana Hanover will collide in the $127,000 Artiscape Pace on closing night, Saturday, September 12, at Tioga Downs
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However, this is far from a match race, as they will have to face off against 2006 O'Brien Award winner Darlins Delight. The mare has been banging heads with another past O'Brien Award winner, My Little Dragon, for the past three seasons. White Birch Farms, which bred and owns Darlins Delight, also bred My Little Dragon the same year.
Hana Hanover is the newest World Champion of the bunch, courtesy of her World Record 1:48.4 performance in the August 22 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands. George Brennan steered the 5-year old daughter of Western Hanover--Hawaiian Jenna for trainer Mark Steacy, and has been listed on the driving assignment once again. The connections of Hana Hanover opted for a start in the Fillies and Mares Open pace at Mohawk Racetrack this past Saturday, where Hana Hanover finished second to Miss Scarlet in a 1:50.4 mile.
Southwind Tempo comes into the Artiscape off a qualifying mile at Chester Racetrack on Tuesday, September 8. Tim Tetrick steered the five-year-old Bettors Delight--Tsunami Hanover mare to a 1:53.4 mile for trainer Ross Croghan.
My Little Dragon and Brian Sears established the stakes record of 1:49.4 in last year’s Artiscape Pace at Vernon Downs with the first sub-1:50 mile in the history of the track. Ross Croghan captured the inaugural edition of the Artiscape in 2006 with Easton Alliance N (driven by Cat Manzi), while Armbro Dancer (Ron Pierce) took home the championship in 2007.
The field for the Artiscape Pace appears below.
Artiscape Pace
Race 9
Purse: $127,000
Head # - PP - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1 - 1 - Southwind Tempo - Tim Tetrick - Ross Croghan
1A - 4 - Tug River Princess - Eric Goodell - Ross Croghan
2 - 2 - Hana Hanover - George Brennan - Mark Steacy
3 - 3 - Darlins Delight - Yannick Gingras - Jeffrey Stafford
4 - 5 - Cuz She Can - Josh Marks - Tracy Brainard
5 - 6 - Hannah Isabel - Yannick Gingras - Jean Drolet
Closing night will feature the 2009 Toyota Yaris Horseplay Car Giveaway and fireworks immediately following live racing.
(With files from Tioga)