Athena Hanover remains unbeaten in PASS

Unbeaten Athena Hanover continued her march to what her connections hope will be a Pennsylvania championship, capturing a division of the $120,115 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday night at The Meadows.

The stake, known as the Delmonica Hanover, was contested over seven divisions. Tarport Majorette and Excellent Caviar dead heated for win, with the other splits going to Flower Lane, Olivia's Jewel, Forever Sunrise, Yalta Hanover and Grace N Charlie. Dave Palone scored a four-bagger in the stakes, driving Athena Hanover, Flower Lane, Olivia's Jewel and Forever Sunrise to victory.

“What she did tonight was mighty good because she had a little bit of sickness after her last race,” said Jim Campbell, who trains the daughter of Tagliabue for Vincent and Geraldine Molloy. “I wouldn't have brought her if I thought it would do her any harm, but she rebounded like a true professional.”

Athena Hanover scored in 1:59.4 by four lengths over Hawaiianphotograph, with Provence AS a distant third.

Over her winning skein, Athena Hanover has not raced on the lead nor set foot outside Pennsylvania. Campbell said those streaks may well continue.

“The only instruction I ever give Dave Palone is, 'Do what you think is best,'” Campbell said. “I know Dave will take good care of her.”

As for the filly's schedule, Campbell said she'll focus on the Pennsylvania championship but remains eligible to the Breeders Crown and stakes at The Red Mile.

Flower Lane enjoyed a snug trip, erasing a 1 1/2-length deficit in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:59.1, fastest victory of the stake. Carolling used an impressive uncovered move to gain second while Kalibrated was third.

Paul Doherty, second trainer for Ray Schnittker, said the daughter of Lindy Lane looked anything like a winner early in her training.

“She was kind of a fat, roly-poly thing,” Doherty said, “but she got rid of that baby fat and rounded out to a real good-looking filly. She makes her own luck. You can drop her in a hole and she'll take right back, and she can kick pretty good when you ask her to.”

Allister Stables bred and owns Flower Lane, who has lost only once in four starts.

Olivia's Jewel was a problem child as well for trainer Mario LaBrasca and breeder-owner William Spotti Jr.

“She didn't want to be led,” LaBrasca recalled. “In fact, she would throw herself to the ground when we came to get her. Then one day something clicked. You could see her blossom. She's done everything right since then.”

She went wire to wire in the stakes, prevailing in 2:00.1 by a neck over Corfu Hanover with Rusty's Big Boo far back in third.

A daughter of Tagliabue, Olivia's Jewel has won two PA Sire Stakes divisions, the first two sires stake victories in LaBrasca's training career. (The Meadows)

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