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Northfield, OH — Galleria Hanover (Always B Miki) took advantage of an inside harness racing draw and miscue by favorite Captain Cowgirl delivering the first Grand Circuit win at MGM Northfield Park to Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in Saturday night’s $100,000 Courageous Lady for 3-year-old filly pacers.
Wrenn Jr., who had previously been second four times in the Courageous Lady, left alertly with Valar Dohaeris (Mark MacDonald). The pair dueled until the mid-point of the first time when MacDonald decided to take a hole in the pocket.
“I wanted to push hard leaving the gate,” said a jubilant Wrenn Jr.
Exiting the first turn, Captain Cowgirl (Tim Tetrick) tried to make a move from third but broke stride. Galleria Hanover would lead by 1-3/4 lengths past the opening quarter of :27.3.
Coming to the half, Cape Cod Hanover (Chris Page) was flushed out of the three-hole by Lookatmyrapsheet (Billy Davis Jr.) to try to challenge the leader. Galleria Hanover, confidently handled by Wrenn Jr., got to the half in a leisurely :56.1.
Moving past the five-eighths pole, Cape Cod Hanover moved within three-quarters of a length of the leader, but approaching three-quarters, Wrenn shook the lines at Galleria Hanover, and she kicked clear to a 1-3/4 lead past three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Through the stretch, Galleria Hanover kicked clear to win by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:50.4 over Valar Dohaeris, who got a perfect trip in the pocket, Give Me This Dance (Aaron Merriman), and a hard closing Sweet Treasure (Chris Lems).
GALLERIA HANOVER REPLAY
“She (Galleria Hanover) raced well tonight; when Captain Cowgirl broke, the race completely changed,” said Wrenn Jr.
For Galleria Hanover, it was the fifth win of her career in 28 starts for trainer Ron Burke and owners W J Donovan, Purnell & Libby, and Joe Sbrocco.
The Late Pick-4 was not solved on Saturday night; there is a carryover of $8,830 heading into Sunday’s (Oct. 16) early Pick-4. Beginning in Race 2, the Early Pick-4 will feature a guaranteed pool of $30,000.
Live racing at MGM Northfield Park returns on Sunday with a first post of 6 p.m.
For complete race results, click here.
by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park
