A picture of perfection in four starts thus far, trotting filly Hypnotic AM dazzled in her biggest test to date -- the $310,700 James Doherty Memorial on 2019 Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands.
Hypnotic AM wins the 2019 James Doherty Memorial at The Meadowlands. (Lisa Photo)
The public choice at 3/5, Hypnotic AM settled away in fourth as Solsbury Hill (Scott Zeron) and Hello Tomorrow (David Miller) took turns on the lead through a :27.1 opening quarter. Crucial (Yannick Gingras) looped to the lead from third, stretched out while hitting the half in :55.4.
Sears picked his spot and moved off the wood from fourth just past the half, giving Hypnotic AM her marching orders and she replied with a brisk brush to confront Crucial through a 1:25.3 third station. Those fillies trotted in tandem around the final turn and heading for home but Hypnotic AM cast her spell on the field and powered away. The undefeated trotting filly pulled away and won in hand by more than two lengths over a late-charging Sherry Lyns Lady (Tim Tetrick) and Hello Tomorrow in a lifetime best 1:53.
A homebred owned by Anders Ström's Courant AB, Hypnotic AM (Chapter Seven - Daydream AM) is now four-for-four in her career. Marcus Melander trains the filly, whose bankroll increased substantially to $204,700.
"It's a fantastic group of fillies this year and for her to win, first over like that in 1:53, fantastic," said Ström in the winner's circle.
Stay up-to-date with all the happenings from 2019 Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands in the 2019 Hambletonian Day News Centre