It wasn't the greatest of win margins, but Sylvia Hanover prevailed in the $100,000 Shady Daisy for three-year-old pacing fillies to kick off the undercard stakes on the 2023 Hambletonian Day card of harness racing on Saturday (Aug. 5) at Meadowlands Racetrack.
Sent off as the 1-9 choice in the field of five, Sylvia Hanover was floated away into fourth by driver Bob McClure as Bellisima Hanover (Todd McCarthy) carved out early fractions of :26 and :54.1. McClure right-lined Sylvia Hanover from fourth at the midway mark and started that concerted outer flow attack, followed from fifth by Beach Cowgirl (Joe Bongiorno). The third station was reached in 1:21.4 with Bellisima Hanover still in front...but not for long. Sylvia Hanover showed her usual relentless late kick to pull clear of the early pacesetter, but Bongiorno and Beach Cowgirl their sights set on an upset. Darting to the inside, Bongiorno rallied Beach Cowgirl up the cones for a heated stretch duel and made a race of it. At the wire, Sylvia Hanover was a head in front with the mile timed in 1:48.3. Bellisima Hanover completed the top trio.
"Once she gets to the five-eighths pole, she's pretty good, she'll just keep going forward," said McClure about the trip. "But you know, they figured it out. Todd was trying to get away from her. They tried to get lengths on her as they know she's going to be back a bit...that's why they're the best drivers in the world. But luckily, she can overcome a lot.
"She dug all the way down the lane, but like I say, they both raced great. That other filly, she raced awesome too. It was a good battle but I'm glad we came out on top."
The #1 ranked horse in North American harness racing, Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki - Shyaway) is trained by Shawn & Mark Steacy for owner Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que. The win was her 13th straight, with her last loss coming more than a year ago on Aug. 4, 2022. Her career summary now stands at 14-1-0 in 15 appearances with more than $1.28 million in earnings. As the 1-9 favourite, she paid $2.10 to win.
"She's got what most horses don't have: the desire to win," said Mark Steacy in the winner's circle. "And it doesn't matter what kind of trip she seems to get. She just she wants to get her nose in front of the end."
Click on the following link for coverage of the 2023 Hambletonian and a replay of the day's stakes events.