Tremendous Sylvia Hanover battles to back-to-back Crowns

Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki) battled through a first-over trip to a herculean harness racing victory in the $700,000 Breeders Crown Three-year-old Filly Pace on Saturday (Oct. 28) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

The filly lied in wait through an action-packed :26.2 first panel as Bob McClure dropped her in sixth. Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) cut the first panel before allowing the onrushing Twin B Joe Fresh (Dexter Dunn) by on the backstretch. McClure activated Sylvia Hanover soon after, and Canada’s 2022 Two-year-old Pacing Filly of the Year thundered forward to challenge the leader.

Sylvia Hanover reached level terms with Twin B Joe Fresh at the half in :54.4, but the leader edged back out to an open-length lead as they rounded the final turn. Twin B Joe Fresh reached three-quarters in 1:21.2 and straightened for home with a cushion, but Sylvia Hanover re-ignited down the stretch. Sylvia Hanover muscled past Twin B Joe Fresh coming into the final eighth of a mile with Charleston (Tim Tetrick) also closing to her inside. The latter put her neck in front in deep-stretch, but Sylvia Hanover battled to the line and nailed Charleston for the victory in 1:49.2.

Charleston finished second. Always B Naughty (Andrew McCarthy) arrived late to take third.

“It was a vicious move up the backside and she should have been done by the three quarters,” said McClure. “But I think she’s got three lungs in here and I’m just fortunate that she was tough enough to hang on.”

SYLVIA HANOVER REPLAY

The win meant a second consecutive Breeders Crown for Sylvia Hanover, who is now 10-for-13 this season and has won 17 of 21 lifetime. The Mark Steacy-trained filly has now earned $1,443,524 lifetime for Hudson Standardbred Stables.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink