Isabella sets track record

With Sutter Hanover annexing the $450,000 Governor’s Cup, driver David Miller guided the winners of three of the four stakes that comprise the $1.7 million Fall Final Four on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Miller also won the $432,700 Valley Victory with Ogham and the $439,000 Three Diamonds with Isabella Blue Chip. He finished second in the $410,000 Goldsmith Maid with Gerri’s Joy.

“I’m very, very happy,” said Miller. “You get the opportunity to drive the good horses, and it worked out tonight.”

Sutter Hanover drew off to a 3 1/4-length victory over 70-1 Jim’s Guy in the last of the four stakes. It was another 3 1/2 lengths to Pandoras Sox in third.

Sutter Hanover, trained by Mark Harder, paced the mile in 1:52 flat for his fifth win with three seconds and one third from 12 starts.

A $20,000 yearling purchase, the Dragon Again colt has earned $326,705 for the partnership of Deena Frost, Sampson Street Stable (Lou and Deborah Domiano), Fox Hollow Farm (Robert Tambur) and TLP Stable (Lou and Tom Pontone).

“He raced very well last week in the elimination, and we did a bit of equipment changes,” said Miller. “I just wanted to follow some cover up and when they cleared, I saw the half was :54.4, so I didn’t take a shot. I just sat out there. Around the last turn he got to Jack’s horse (Jack Moiseyev with 4-5 favorite Artzina) and actually he grabbed a hold of the bit, and I was happy at the point. I was just hoping he’d have enough to hold on.”

Ogham held off the challenge from The Bosses Lindy for a nose victory in the $432,700 Valley Victory for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Manfinity was third by two lengths.

Ogham posted his first career victory in his fourth start, trotting the mile in 1:57.

“I raced him last week and liked him,” said winning driver Miller. “He finished up good and strong (in the elims), and he got a good post. I was positive going into the race. I couldn’t have drawn it up any better (following Rushmore Hanover). He took us right where he had to go. I pulled the earplugs and he just dug right in. He acts very professional.”

A $14,000 yearling purchase, Ogham, a son of Andover Hall now has $221,325 earned for owners Robert Burgess and Karin-Olsson Burgess.

“He had some soundness issues earlier in the year,” trainer Blair Burgess said, explaining the colt’s limited racing experience. “We took a chip out of one ankle back in March, and I was patient with him after that. I’m not going to say I knew the result here. This is just a colt I wanted to bring down here and give him a shot against the better colts and see what I have for next year. I don’t think he’s a Glidemaster but he’s a nice colt.”

Burgess did drop one intriguing bit of information: “There’s an outside possibility that he [Glidemaster] might race (in 2007),” he said, referring to the Hambletonian and Triple Crown winner for 2006.

Falls For You was ready to pick up the pieces when 1-5 favorite Pampered Princess faltered in the $410,000 Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Pampered Princess, the likely divisional champion, made a bid down the backside but failed to fire in the stretch and faded to seventh.

Falls For You, driven by George Brennan, followed the outside flow and took the lead from Gerri’s Joy for a four-length tally in 1:56 flat, equaling the stakes record shared by CR Kay Suzie (1994)], Syrinx Hanover (2000) and Cameron Hall (2001).

It was six lengths back to Celebrity Speedie, entrymate to Pampered Princess, who saved the show players.

“I knew I had a top filly tonight,” Brennan said. “Naturally I knew Pampered Princess (who had won 10 of her first 11 starts coming into the night) was the filly to beat. Other than that, I thought she (Falls For You) was as good or better than anything else in there. Once she (Constance Hall broke stride), I was able to follow cover when Danny (Dan Dube with Flash Lightning) tipped three deep, and I just followed him to the turn. And then she just took off. She does have a good turn of speed, and she turned it on at the right time.”

Falls For You, a daughter of Yankee Glide–Armbro Niagara, picked up her second win with two seconds and two thirds from 14 starts. A $35,000 yearling purchase, she races for her trainer Mario Zuanetti whose nom de racecourse is Atlantic Trot Inc. The filly has now banked $298,593.

Pampered Princess was not herself, according to driver-trainer Jimmy Takter.

“She must be sick,” said Takter. “Her heart rate is normally 96 and right now it is around 126. She must have a really bad infection, and we’re just checking her out. It’s just too bad.”

Isabella Blue Chip set a track and stakes record of 1:51.2, winning the $439,000 Three Diamonds for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Isabella Blue Chip, who also won the Sweetheart Pace in August at the Meadowlands, turned in a length and a quarter tally over Little Miss Dragon to fuel her case for divisional honors. It was another 2 3/4 lengths to Speed Date in third.

“It worked out great tonight,” said Miller, wininng his second Fall Final Four stakes of the night. “I was behind the gate with nobody on it. I was figuring maybe on leaving and Ronnie (Pierce with Little Miss Dragon) retaking, but he put me right in the two hole. That was good and I got to track all the way. She raced just as good as she has all summer. She felt very good in the hole, and when I tipped her, she went right on.”

Isabella Blue Chip now has eight wins, three seconds and two thirds from 15 starts. A $40,000 yearling purchase, she has now earned $658,583 for the Delaware ownership of Only Money Inc (Patricia and Marianne Callahan) and Teague Inc. (Brenda Teague and George Teague Jr.).

The bay daughter of Bettor’s Delight is trained by George Teague, whose stable also included 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue.

“I think she’s the leading candidate for it (2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year),” Teague said. “I felt good when (trainer) Erv Miller offered me a great profit (on her) at the yearling sale. She’s not let us down. She’s got a long way to go to be Rainbow Blue; I’m not putting that on her.”

“She raced giant,” driver Pierce said of runner-up Little Miss Dragon. “I could have reversed the trip, but I was overly confident. I thought if I controlled the front I could pace away from Isabella. I was wrong.” (Meadowlands)

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