Nova Awards presented

Harness Tracks of America announced its 2006 Nova Award winners Friday, with Yankee Glide progeny Glidemaster and Passionate Glide being named top 3-year-old colt trotter and 3-year-old filly trotter, respectively.

Glidemaster, who won the Hambletonian, Kentucky Futurity and Yonkers Trot on his way to become the eighth Trotting Triple Crown champion, also set a single-season earnings mark for trotters with $1,918,701 in purses for owner Bob Burgess, Karin Burgess, Marsha Cohen and Brittany Farms and trainer Blair Burgess. Passionate Glide won 13 of her 15 starts, including the Hambletonian Oaks, Kentucky Filly Futurity, Delvin Miller Memorial and Moni Maker on her way to more than $1 million in earnings for breeder-owner Brittany Farms and trainer Jimmy Takter.

Takter trainee Pampered Princess was named the Nova Award winner as the best 2-year-old trotting filly. Owned by Bob and David Anderson, Pampered Princess won 10 of 12 races and $626,244 in earnings. Peter Haughton Memorial winner Donato Hanover was named the best 2-year-old trotting colt. Trained by Steve Elliott, the eight-time winner amassed $662,587 in earnings for owners David Scharf, Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold.

Ontario-based Luck Of Michelle won the Nova Award as the best 2-year-old filly pacer. A winner of more than $615,000 this year, Luck Of Michelle is owned by Karen Carroll and Natalie Pentland. Artzina, a seven-time winner with $486,229 in earnings, was named the best 2-year-old pacing colt. Artzina is owned by Kalman Saul Liebowitz and Marc Rubach.

Total Truth, who won the North America Cup and Cane Pace among eight victories, was named the Nova Award winner as the top 3-year-old colt pacer. A winner of nearly $1.5 million, Total Truth is trained by George Teague, who shares owneship with his sister, Brenda, and Pat and Marianne Callahan's Only Money Inc. The Nova Award winner for 3-year-old filly pacers is Darlin's Delight, who banked $940,352 in earnings for Joe Parisi's White Birch Farm and trainer Jeff Stafford.

Sand Vic, a winner of 10 of 18 starts and more than $1.1 million in 2006, was voted the Nova Award for older male trotters. August Fredrik Miedel is the owner and Trond Smedshammer is the trainer. The $709,763-winning Peaceful Way is the Nova Award winner as the best older mare trotter. She is owned by Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld, Sam Goldband, Barbara and Joe Myers, Goin My Way Stable, trainer Dave Tingley and breeder Angie Stiller.

Lis Mara, who posted eight sub-1:50 victories among his 10 overall winner's circle trips, won the Nova Award as the best older male pacer. A winner of $967,485, Lis Mara was trained by Erv Miller for owners Andy Willinger and Mike Gulotta, John Jarka and Otis Ray's MJG Stable. Glowing Report won the award for best older pacing mare. Jerry Silverman trains for owner Marvin Rounick. Glowing Report won nine races and $569,268 in purse earnings.

Owners of the 12 divisional champions will receive HTA's prized bronze Nova awards at the annual awards dinner scheduled for Sunday night, March 11, 2007, in Hollywood, Fla.

« Back