Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Merrie Annabelle & Sweetheart Fields Set

July 28, 2005

Klipspringer, Miss Wisconsin and Celebrity Sweedie won their respective $20,000 Merrie Annabelle elimination races on Thursday night at the Meadowlands. The top three from each of the elims as well as the fastest fourth-place finisher advance to the $390,000 Merrie Annabelle Final for two-year-old trotting fillies on August 4 at the Meadowlands.

Klipspringer extended her winning streak to three with a three-quarter-length victory over KD Girl in 1:57.4 in the fifth race, the third and final division. Swedish-bred USA Hornline, making her pari-mutuel debut and first start over a North American track, was third by seven and a quarter lengths. Keystone Gratitude was the fastest fourth-place filly with a time of 1:59.2.

Klipspringer, driven by David Miller and trained by Jonas Czernyson, is owned by her breeder, Menhammar Stuteri of New Canaan, Connecticut. Among her three wins in four starts was the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final on July 21.

"She's not real big, but she goes a long ways," said Miller. "I thought it was my only shot to beat her to get around her [KD Girl]. We got an easy middle half."

Celebrity Sweedie, driven by Brian Sears and trained by Staffan Lind, drew off to a one-length victory over Victor's Finesse in 1:58. Cream Pie was five and a half lengths back in third. Celebrity Sweedie races for Celebrity Farms of New York City and now has two wins, a second and a third in four starts.

Miss Wisconsin, from the team of driver Mike Lachance and trainer Ron Gurfein, trotted to her first win in three starts with a mile in 1:59.3. She won by three-quarters of a length over Gluteus Maximus with Lady Caviar third. Miss Wisconsin races for the Sampson Street Stable, Mathias Meinzinger, David Scharf and Jerry Silva.

The trainers of the elimination winners were able to select their post position for the final and, in the order they selected, Klipspringer opted for post two, Celebrity Sweedie will leave from post three and Miss Wisconsin has post four.

Ross Croghan trained both winners of the $20,000 elims for the $330,000 Sweetheart Pace, contested as non-wagering races before the program. The Mentally Stable's Mythical, driven by John Campbell, scored a three-quarter-length victory over Catch An Angel, pacing the mile in 1:55.1. All Night Long was three lengths back in third. Lets Imagine and Mystic Player rounded out the top five that qualified for the final from that division.

Lonesome Day won the second elim in 1:55 for David Miller, while Knock Yourself Out nailed second and My Angel Lou was third. Lonesome Day is owned by the Let It Ride Stables Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida. Winbak Rita and Winbak Zoom were fourth and fifth, respectively, and earned spots in the final. The two elim winners had their pick of post for the final on August 5. Mythical will leave from the rail and Lonesome Day picked post four.