Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Donato Hanover Wins Haughton

August 3, 2006

Donato Hanover extended his winning streak to four, setting a stakes and track record 1:55 flat in the $456,000 Peter Haughton Memorial, Thursday night at the Meadowlands. The 1:55 clocking eclipsed the 1:55.4 mark set by Donerail in the 1994 Peter Haughton. The half-brother to Hambletonian contender Here Comes Herbie, posted his fourth win in five starts.

“We had a problem in the first turn, he was just a little bit shaky so I was being extra careful,” said winning driver Ron Pierce. “He trotted real nice down the back and then we hit the second turn and it was the same thing, just a little bit shaky so I steadied him. As soon as we straighten up I chirped to him and he took off. I knew I’d catch him [Mythical Lindy], just a question of getting him around the turn. He’s a very special colt, right up with the best ones I’ve driven like Tom Ridge. He just broke the stakes record; I’d say he’s one of the best.”

Mythical Lindy, who cut the fractions, was second, with Bamboo Yankee in third.

Donato Hanover, a son of Andover Hall – D Train, has now banked $268,937 for the ownership of David Scharf of New York, New York; Golden Touch Stable of Fair Lawn, New Jersey and Steve Arnold of Purchase, New York. The Steve Elliott trainee started his four-race winning streak on June 29 in a division of the Harriman Cup at the Meadowlands.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said Elliott. “It seems like everything is snowballing. You ride it while you can because I’ve been on both ends of it. Right now we’re enjoying the good times. We’ve had enough of the bad times. We’re having a lot of fun. He’s a good colt. He’s fast. He’s goes fast. He has the desire to be a winner. He’s like Burning Point: They all make me look good.”

In the co-featured sixth race, the $537,000 Merrie Annabelle at the Meadowlands, Gerri’s Joy coasted to a three and a half-length victory with Hall of Fame driver John Campbell in the sulky. It was Campbell’s fifth win in the Merrie Annabelle, the showcase event for two-year-old trotting fillies.

Gerri’s Joy trotted the mile in 1:57 flat, picking up her second win in four career starts. Ironmaid Volo was second best. Chez Lucie was placed third on the disqualification of Clever Catch. Gerri’s Joy, owned and bred by Nicholas Cimino of Pompano Beach, Florida, is trained by Remi Jensen. Gerri’s Joy has now banked $278,900.

“I got the rundown from Remi and he was very confident in her going in,” said Campbell, who was driving the daughter of Enjoy Lavec for the first time. “He just said to be a little careful with her at the gate. After that, he said, just let her settle a she would do the rest, finish strong. He thought she would finish well. He thought she was as good as anyone in there and she proved him right. Once she got into the first turn she was fine and she felt solid. I felt pretty confident going into the last turn that she was going to be tough to beat. She was going to race off the pace, didn’t change the strategy [when favorite Possess The Magic broke stride].”

$456,000 Haughton Final The Meadowlands: Results Thursday, August 3, 2006
PP Horse                          Driver
3 Donato Hanover             Ron Pierce
4 Mythical Lindy                David Miller
5 Bamboo Yankee           Ray Schnittker
2 Gliding Myth                   Jody Jamieson
9 Stunt Man Hall                Alton Lynch
8 Manfinity                        Cat Manzi
10 Around And Over         T Smedshmer
7 Impeto Grif                  Marco Smorgon
1 Anton K                       Y Gingras
6 Bet To Win                    Ray Remmen
:28.2      :58      1:27.1      1:55