Gaitway grand slam for Alagna, McCarthy

Manalapan, NJ — The final round of Gaitway Farm’s qualifiers for 2-year-olds was held Monday, and harness racing trainer Tony Alagna teamed with driver Andy McCarthy to win four of the nine events for the rookies.

Among Alagna’s winners were female trotter Pink Coco Chanel, a three-quarter-sister to millionaire world-record-holder Homicide Hunter, and female pacer Hamptons Babe, a daughter of multiple Dan Patch Award winning mare Anndrovette. Hamptons Babe stopped the clock in 1:53.4, the day’s best time for 2-year-olds.

“She’s come a long way in the last month,” McCarthy said about Hamptons Babe, who won a qualifier at Gaitway on June 21 in 1:56.1. “She was quite good last week, and they made a couple of adjustments for this week and she’s a little better gaited and a little stronger finishing. She went a big trip today. I think she’s a very nice filly.”

Hamptons Babe, by American Ideal, is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and was bred by Crawford Farms.

Crawford Farms also bred and owns Pink Coco Chanel, a daughter of Cantab Hall out of Evening Prayer. Pink Coco Chanel was making her first start in a qualifier and led at every point of call on her way to a 1:57.2 score.

“She’s a very, very nice filly,” McCarthy said. “She did it quite easily. She can carry speed so easily, she’s quite exciting, actually.”

Also winning for Alagna was female pacer Boudoir Hanover. A week after finishing second in 1:56.2, Boudoir Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Bedroomconfessions) won in 1:54. She is owned by Riverview Racing, Alagna Racing, Caviart Farms, and the partnership of Daniel Plouffe and Steven Head. She was bred by Riverview Breeding and Visionary Breeders.

“The same deal with her (as Hamptons Babe); she’s come such a long way in a month,” McCarthy said. “She was OK last week, but still a little green. This week, she had her mind on her job and feels like she’s ready to race. She’s a very nice filly.”

Male trotter Gigondas (Trixton-Magical Valentine) was the remaining Alagna winner. Making his debut, the colt sat second for most of the mile before taking the lead in the stretch and winning in 1:58.2. He is owned by breeders M T Pockets Stables and Victoria Howard.

“He’s got some serious gears, that horse,” McCarthy said. “He’s definitely got a lot of speed. Once he gets a little smarter, he’ll be a very nice colt.”

No other trainer had more than one 2-year-old winner.

Tom Fanning sent out female pacer Miss Helen Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Miss Kitty Hanover), who won in 1:56.1, which duplicated her time from last week’s second-place finish at Gaitway.

Male pacer McClelland Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Magic Starlight) made his third qualifier a winner, in a time of 1:55.3 for trainer Ron Burke.

Female trotter Quinnpatrickshea (Devious Man-Mymomsablizzard) won in 1:59 for trainer Jennifer Bongiorno while male pacer Hunt For Cash (Huntsville-L Dees Val) won in 1:56.3 for trainer Julie Miller in his debut.

Male pacer Bounty Hunter (Huntsville-Stonebridge Sundae) also was victorious in his first time out, posting a 1:56.3 triumph for trainer Robert Cleary.

For Monday’s complete Gaitway charts, click here. To watch video replays of all the day’s qualifiers, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA