Hambletonian winner arrives at DuQuoin

With an Illinois State Police escort over the last seven miles of his journey from Lexington, Ky., Donato Hanover arrived at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds at 2:15 p.m. CDT Friday amid fanfare that included Miss Illinois and a Dixieland Band.

Illinois Department of Agriculture director Chuck Hartke, Bureau Chief of Illinois County Fairs and Horse Racing Charlyn Fargo and several other state and fair officials were on hand as trainer Steve Elliott led the Hambletonian winner off the trailer and into his stall on the south side of the fairgrounds. Elliott said the 300 mile trip from Lexington was”noneventful.”

Donato Hanover will make his first start since winning the Hambletonian Aug. 4 at the Meadowlands in Saturday’s $600,000 World Trotting Derby. A multiple-heat event since its inception in 1981, the Derby will be raced in one dash this year. It is scheduled for the 11^th and final race on the Saturday card and should go off around 3:30 p.m.

In Thursday’s only Hayes Memorial, a $40,000 event for 2-year-old filly pacers, Miss Scarlett shattered the stakes record with a 1:51.3 victory with Andy Miller in the bike. The previous stakes mark was 1:52.1 by Musical Dreamer in 1999.

Miller settled third until after the :28.1 opening quarter, then sent the Red River Hanover filly quickly in to the lead. She passed the half in :56.4 and the three quarters in 1:24.2. With the help of swift tailwind, Miss Scarlett came home in :27.1 for her uncontested victory.

Trained by Bret Shultz for owners Charles, Julie and Francene Nash, Miss Scarlett won her fourth race in as many starts.

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