$893,900 Kindergarten Finals at the Meadowlands

The Meadowlands hosted the $893,900 finals for the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old harness racing trotters and pacers Saturday, November 4.

$241,300 Final Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies

The 5th race first Kindergarten Final saw 6/5 race favorite Honey’s Sweet (Yannick Gingras) break stride right as the starting gate was pulling away and that changed the complexation of the race immediately.

Sambuca Hanover (Bar Hopping) and driver David Miller were first on the early lead with Eloise (Corey Callahan) grinding their way to the front by the opening quarter mile in :27.2. Then it was Internationalmodel (Scott Zeron) moving first-over and taking command going to the half mile in :57.

Then pulling the pocket-trip was Eloise, who came after Internationalmodel at the three-quarters in 1:26.1 with Sambuca Hanover coming off the rail to follow Eloise.

Then as they came down the stretch, Sambuca Hanover came on to take the lead but then weaving through the field ducking to the pylons was Glamorous Hanover (Todd McCarthy) who collared Sambuca Hanover at the wire in 1:54.2.

It was Sambuca Hanover who won the photo finish by a head over Glamorous Hanover with Marg In Charge (Dexter Dunn) third.

SAMBUCA HANOVER REPLAY

Trained by R. Nifty Norman, it was a lifetime mark for Sambuca Hanover in her fifth win of the season. She is co-owned by David Mc Duffee, Paul Bordogna and Mel Hartman and paid $19.40 to win. She was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

“She got away well,” co-owner Bordogna said. “She’s a big filly and we’re going strong with her. She was good early [in the year] but had a little soreness and needed work.” He said she worked her way back well to this spot.

$267,500 Final Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts

Karl (Tactical Landing) was sent off as the overwhelming 1/9 favorite for a reason and with Yannick Gingras at the helm, the all-star trotting colt was at his best once again.

It was Tony Adams (Dexter Dunn) who was first on the early lead with Flying Kromos S (Ake Svanstedt) coming on to take command at the first quarter in :28.1. Floating out from post ten was Karl and he worked his way to the front approaching the half mile in :57.3. There were no real challenges until Mosquito (Jordan Stratton) came first-over before the three-quarters in 1:26.4.

As the field started down the stretch, Karl remained the strong horse, holding the field at bay to the wire, winning by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:53.2. Flying Kronos S was second with Tony Adams third.

KARL REPLAY

Nancy Takter did not like Karl getting the 10 hole because “he drew it a lot and I’m sick of it. But he handled it perfectly. Yannick had him well in hand and they relaxed once in front.”

It was the third straight win and eighth victory in just nine lifetime starts for Karl. Trained by Nancy Takter, Karl now sports earnings of $843,260. It was just last week that Karl won the $700,000 Breeders Crown. He is owned by Christina & Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms (who bred him) and Bender Sweden. He paid just $2.10 to win.

$205,900 Final Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies

With a four-wide move coming to the top of the stretch, Caviart Belle (Captaintreacherous) and driver Yannick Gingras were able to sweep by the field in the stretch to capture the 9th race final in a lifetime best clocking. Making it a stakes double for Gingras and trainer Nancy Takter.

Canigetalouploup (David Miller) scooted right out to the early lead with Sarasota Hanover (Scott Zeron) sitting on their backs as they went a quick opening quarter in :26.3. Pressure Cooker (Andy McCarthy) then came up first-over at the half mile in :54. Following the outside flow was Tarrific (Dexter Dunn) and then Caviart Belle third-over.

As they raced down the backstretch, Sarasota Hanover pulled the pocket and went to the lead by the three-quarters in 1:22 as the rest of the field fanning out for the stretch drive. Sarasota Hanover held the lead but flying on the outside late was Caviart Belle as the tore off to a two length triumph in 1:49.4 with Miraculous Deo (Todd McCarthy) closing to be second with Sarasota Hanover third.

CAVIART BELLE REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the sixth win on the year for Caviart Belle. She is trained by Nancy Takter for Caviart Farms of Vienna, VA and was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. She paid $4.40 to win as the race favorite.

$179,200 Final Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts

Hall of Fame driver David Miller notched his second Kindergarten Final win on the evening in the 11th race with the pacing colt Lou Vuitton (Sweet Lou) after a tough fought three-horse battle to the finish.

Total Stranger (Yannick Gingras) left smartly from post nine to take the early lead with Rock The Captain N (Todd McCarthy) getting the two-hole trip. Then Lou Vuitton came out for Miller and they sprinted to the lead before the race favorite Courtship (Matt Kakaley) came first-over and they cleared to the lead by the half mile in :55.2.

Courtship then led the pack through the three-quarters in 1:22.2 and as they battled down the stretch Lou Vuitton came after Courtship as did Total Stranger with Vuitton getting up by a head over Courtship with Total Stranger third in 1:51.1.

LOU VUITTON REPLAY

It was the fourth win of the season for Lou Vuitton. He is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stable, J&T Silva and Larry Karr. He paid $6.00 to win.

For complete race results, click here:

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink