The stake for freshman filly pacers was contested over five divisions, with Alone Hanover, Bettor Be Steamin, Cocktail Time and Imadragonlady taking the other splits. Montrell Teague and trainer Clyde Francis teamed for a pair of stake victories (Shes So Marvelous, Alone Hanover), as did Vic Kirby and trainer Jo Ann Looney-King (Bettor Be Steamin, Imadragonlady).
Shes So Marvelous is a daughter of Delmarvalous, who won the 2010 Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows for trainer George Teague Jr. Montrell Teague didn’t drive his father’s Adios winner — Brian Sears was aboard that day — because he was still a teenager learning the ropes. Nevertheless, he said it was special to win with Shes So Marvelous, who’s campaigned by George Teague Jr. Inc. and K&R Racing.
“It’s sentimental for us since we had the stallion,” he said. “We didn’t breed this one so she’s not a homebred, but the Delmarvalous connection was the main reason we bought her. She kind of blew the turns when we first raced her at Pocono, but she handled the track a lot better here.”
After a :30 second-quarter breather, Shes So Marvelous had no real challengers, downing Alexas Princess by two and a half lengths. The pocket-sitting Lees Cruisetta was third.
Alone Hanover was only a tick slower than her stablemate, scoring in 1:55.3 on the front end. Traceuse Hanover finished second, two and a quarter lengths back, while Freakonomics completed the ticket.
“She’s been a nice filly training down all year,” said Francis of George Teague, Jr. Inc.’s daughter of Dragon Again-All Night Long. “She wasn’t all we thought, but she’s come on to be pretty good.”
Bettor Be Steamin shot the Lightning Lane and, though hesitant near the wire, kept her nose in front of Pink Gardenias to capture her career debut in 1:57 for owner Tim Tetrick LLC. Angie Hanover earned show.
“I don’t think she’s ever been in a passing lane, and she was kind of lost down there,” Kirby said. “Once she got the hang of it and got straight, then she went right on.”
Asked jokingly if he would advise owner Tetrick that he, Kirby, would be driving the filly the rest of the season rather than Tetrick, he said: “That’s up to him, but he might give me the call anyway.”
In the $13,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life Trot, Monte Cristo Spur was pressured nearly every step, but triumphed convincingly in 1:53.2 for trainer/driver Dick Stillings and owner Richard Davis. See The Wind was second despite a brutal trip, two and three-quarter lengths in arrears, with Well Spiced third. The five-year-old son of Cantab Hall-Sweet Gabriella now boasts $227,248 in career earnings.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Saturday when the program features the Sand Tart, a $190,036 PA Sires Stake for two-year-old filly pacers. First post is 1 p.m.