By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photo courtesy of Jessica Hallett)
Batavia, NY — Wednesday (Aug. 14) night at Batavia Downs, one five horse field consisting of 2-year-old pacing fillies will line up in the New York sire Stakes for their shot at the winner’s share of the $102,500 purse that is available for this small but select group.
Headlining that field is Cowgirl Hanover (Huntsville-Code One Hanover) who comes in undefeated lifetime and is anticipated to be the prohibitive post time favorite.
Cowgirl Hanover has been peerless in her first five career starts, all of which were victories in NYSS events by as many as three open lengths. Her 1:53.3 lifetime best effort at Yonkers on July 11 came despite dealing with broken equipment at the end of the race. She is the leader in points (250) and earnings ($207,500) in her division of the NYSS and will certainly add to those totals here.
Trainer Jared Bako will have Doug McNair between the wheels again and they will depart from post one on Wednesday.
One of Cowgirl Hanover’s main threats appears to come from her stablemate and another Bako trainee, The Last Martini (Huntsville-Martinique) who is coming off a lifetime mark (1:54.1) of her own last week at Saratoga Raceway. She has two less starts than the rest of this field this year, but seems to be rounding into form nicely off that last outing.
The Last Martini will have Jason Bartlett at the lines and they will start right next to Cowgirl Hanover in post two.
Another one to watch here is Send It Down Slim (Huntsville-Rockinsangria), who has not missed the board in five NYSS starts with two wins, two seconds and one third. And those efforts have her sitting second for points (162) and earnings ($120,581) behind Cowgirl Hanover. But she has also lost to both Cowgirl Hanover and The Last Martini in her last two starts, despite having post one in both outings. Here she drew post five, but her gate speed may very well give her the advantage she needs anyway.
Trainer Ray Schnittker once again has Mark Macdonald in the bike, who has driven this filly all year.
The New York Sire Stake event will go as race six. There are also four, $20,000 Excelsior stakes that are carded as races two, four, eight and 10. Post time for the first race on Wednesday is 6 p.m.