Nichols, NY — Tioga Downs played host to the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) for sophomore pacers on Sunday (Aug. 24). Unreasonable (Marcus Miller) charged late to capture the $200,650 EBC for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Shes A Streaker (Tyler Buter) was first to the quarter in :26.2. She slowed things down with a :29.2 second quarter and led to the half in :55.4. The Last Martini (Jason Bartlett) came first-up to challenge as they headed for the final turn. Shes A Streaker was first to three-quarters in 1:22.4.  As they made the turn for home, second-place finisher The Last Martini took over the lead. Then Unreasonable ($3.00) made her move heading down the stretch. The Last Martini dug in, but Unreasonable kept coming and got by just in time to win in 1:50.2. Shes A Streaker finished third. Unreasonable is a 3-year-old filly by Huntsville . She is owned by David Miller and trainer Erv Miller. It was he sixth win this year. She now has nine career victories.

Lexington, KY — As the heat in the Midwest continued on Tuesday (Aug. 19), so did the competition of beautifully-bred individuals at the Red Mile. Topville Lucky rebounded in a big way in the $80,000 third-round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for freshman filly pacers in a new mark of 1:50.2 while Gala paced a big mile of her own. The 15-race card also included two $35,000 second-round Kentucky Sire Stakes legs for older trotters, two $30,000 third-round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 third-round divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and two $10,000 third-round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. The last three series were exclusive to 2-year-old filly pacers. Topville Lucky demonstrates her class in Kentucky Championship Series Slightly overlooked at odds of 8-1, Topville Lucky and driver Atlee Bender finished best to win for the second time in three starts for trainer Erv Miller. Favored Bahama Momma (Scott Zeron) was second with Seaside Shuffle (Dexter Dunn) rounding out the trifecta. The daughter of Sweet Lou -Warrawee Winx drew the rail in the contentious field of eight and settled in fifth through the first quarter while first-leg winner Beautiful Memory (Marvin Luna) established the first split of :27.4. That is when Andy McCarthy and second choice Caviart Daisy went to the top to set fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.3. As Caviart Daisy lost her head of steam, Topville Lucky and Seaside Shuffle were advancing to make their final bids to the wire and were a nose apart going into the homestretch with the latter in charge. Bahama Momma, however, was launching her own bid from fourth. Bahama Momma was valiant in defeat after overcoming post position eight and pacing her final quarter mile in :26.4. On this day, though, it just was not good enough to catch Topville Lucky, who uncorked her own :26.2 last panel. Bred by Jeremy Yoder, Topville Lucky broke her maiden in her first attempt in the first leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series on July 29. Her connections were pleased enough with that effort, in which she came home in :25.3, to move her up in class to the Championship Series on Aug. 10. The filly was last after drawing outside and breaking prior to the half-mile marker. She was a different animal today with an inside assignment. Topville Lucky is the first foal out of her unraced dam and was selected for $27,000 at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale by her trainer in partnership with Douglas Overhiser, Michael Ternisky and Scott Leaf. The filly paid $19.18 to win. She has earned $55,000.

Dexter Dunn pulled Miki And Minnie out of the pocket in the stretch and overtook pacesetter Chantilly nearing the finish line to capture Saturday’s (June 16) $250,000 Grade 1 James M. Lynch Memorial, for 3-year-old female pacers, by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.1. Rodeo Drive Deo was third. It was the long-awaiting first meeting between Miki And Minnie, the 2024 Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old filly pacer, and Chantilly, Canada’s 2024 Horse of the Year. They were supposed to meet in the Fan Hanover Stakes at Ontario’s Woodbine Mohawk Park in June, but Chantilly was scratched due to sickness. On Saturday, Chantilly and driver James MacDonald left quickly from post six and rolled to a :25.4 opening quarter on the lead. Miki And Minnie, who started from post two, took up the pocket position behind Chantilly, followed by Rodeo Drive Deo. The order remained unchanged as Chantilly reached the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.1. Dunn tipped Miki And Minnie to the outside momentarily on the last turn but then returned to the pocket until the head of the stretch. Once Dunn asked Miki And Minnie to go from there, she worked her way to the front as part of a :26.4 last quarter to earn her eighth victory in nine races this season. “Yes, I was a little nervous,” Miki And Minnie’s trainer, Chris Ryder, said about the matchup. “I figured she might beat us out of the gate, and what would happen after that was up to Dexter. But (Miki And Minnie) got out of the gate well enough to get a good spot, and she’s just got a lot of heart. “I think I know my filly fairly well; she’s a grinder. She’s not the fastest filly, maybe, for actual quick speed, but she can hold whatever speed she’s got. She just keeps it going. She’s got a big heart and a great set of lungs, and she always finds the wire. She’s fantastic. It’s just a great result. It’s a real thrill.” Miki And Minnie has hit the board in all 20 of her career races, with 14 wins and $1.35 million in earnings. The daughter of Always B Miki -That’s The Ticket is owned by breeders Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz. Ranked No. 1 in the current Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, Miki And Minnie has won nine of her past 10 starts dating back to her Breeders Crown triumph in October. Her only defeat was by a head in June. Chantilly, who was unbeaten in nine races last season, has won 13 of 15 lifetime. “Chantilly went a great race,” Ryder said. “It was a matchup we were looking for, I believe. Let’s do it again.” Miki And Minnie, the 1-2 favorite, paid $3 to win. 

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Tactical Landing filly Yo Tillie survived a rough early journey, limbed three-wide past the eighth pole, not crossing over to the inside and the lead until past the three-eighths, but kept trotting strongly to win her sixth race in an undefeated season by taking the $250,000 Grade 1 Delmonica Hanover, for 3-year-old trotting fillies, in a stakes- and track-record 1:51.2. Hambletonian Oaks winner Conversano left well as did Delaney Hanover; the latter hit the top before a :27.2 quarter, then kept the winner out in the air for most of the next quarter, with Yo Tillie reaching the half in :55.4. Conversano came first-over before the 1:23.2 three quarters, but the overland route took its toll, and Delaney Hanover provided the major stretch danger. That filly picked up a few inches on the winner, but Yo Tillie appeared to be in control, winning by three parts of a length while making driver Todd McCarthy the first two-time winner in the Delmonica Hanover’s five-year history. “I was actually glad when I heard that she would be starting from post six (after What A Bid Hanover was scratched) – six is a lot easier than seven,” winning trainer Andrew Harris, also co-owner with William Pollock and Bruce Areman, said after the race. “She’s a professional now. She used to get a little fired-up before the race, but she’s learned and is easier that way now.” The 1:51.2 clocking shaved a tick off the stakes record first set by Joviality S in 2022 and tied by Warrawee Michelle last year. Those two had also shared the track record with Check Me Out (2012), Designed To Be (2014), and Lasting Dream (who won a consolation earlier in the day). “She’s a really special filly, and Andrew is doing a phenomenal job with her,” said winning driver Todd McCarthy. “She’s matured a little bit, and she’s quite smart at the moment. We can race her anyway we want. She’s just been an absolute pleasure to drive every single time.” Yo Tillie now has career earnings of $592,383, with 14 wins in 18 starts. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, Yo Tillie paid $2.80 to win. 

Hightstown, NJ — Yo Tillie was not eligible to the Hambletonian Oaks earlier this month, but she will meet four horses from that event’s final – including champ Conversano – when she brings an eight-race win streak to Saturday’s (Aug. 16) $250,000 Grade 1 Delmonica Hanover Stakes, for 3-year-old female trotters, at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Purchased this past November by Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman and trainer Andrew Harris following the completion of her 2-year-old season, Yo Tillie is unbeaten in five starts this year. The daughter of Tactical Landing -Consolidator finished her rookie campaign with three consecutive victories for then owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder as part of an eight-win season that included Kentucky Sire Stakes titles at Oak Grove and Cumberland Run. Over her past four starts, Yo Tillie has won twice in 1:51 and once in 1:51.1. The next fastest victory time this season by a sophomore trotting filly is 1:51.2, set by Conversano when she captured the Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands on Aug 2. Conversano, trained by Juan Cano, and driver James MacDonald will leave from post three in the Delmonica Hanover and get the 5-2 nod as morning-line favorite. Yo Tillie, the 3-1 second choice, and driver Todd McCarthy will start from post seven in the field of eight. “She’s been doing great, and she’s coming into the race good,” Harris said about Yo Tillie, who is ranked No. 6 in the current Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, four spots ahead of Conversano. “Obviously, we respect the heck out of Conversano; she’s a very nice filly. I’m just like the fans; I get to watch this and see what happens.” Yo Tillie heads to the Delmonica Hanover, which is part of Pocono’s Sun Stakes Saturday card, off a three-length, 1:51.1 win in the first round of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series at the Red Mile. Her remaining four victories this year have all been by more than three lengths, including her 1:51 score in a division of the Grade 2 Del Miller Memorial at the Meadowlands on July 12. Her other triumphs this season came in divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes, Reynolds Memorial and Garden State Trot for 3-year-old trotting fillies. All were at the Meadowlands. “Did I expect her to be as good as she is? No,” Harris said. “But at the same time, nothing she does surprises me. I had a feeling she was the real deal, and that’s what attracted us to try to buy her.” So, what has been the key to her success? “I think it’s just that she has such a big set of lungs,” Harris said. “She’s obviously fast, but there are a lot of fast horses. I think it’s the lungs. She can just take so much more air than most horses. And she’s doing it any way Todd wants to do it right now, so she’s not trip dependent. I think her lungs allow her to do that. She can make a sweeping move and just keep going.” For her career, Yo Tillie has won 13 of 17 races and banked $467,383. Conversano will make her first start since winning the Hambletonian Oaks. The daughter of Muscle Hill -Celebrity Ruth has hit the board in all nine of her starts this season, with seven wins, one second and a third. In addition to the Oaks, her victories include the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship and a division of the Reynolds. The remaining Hambletonian Oaks finalists heading to the Delmonica Hanover are third-place finisher Delaney Hanover, fifth-place finisher R Charm, and seventh-place finisher Torrisi. Delaney Hanover, who came home in :26.3 as she rallied from eighth in the Oaks, leads the trio at 5-1 on the morning line. She leaves from post six with Scott Zeron in the sulky for trainer Lucas Wallin. Also among the field, at 4-1 on the morning line, is 2024 Goldsmith Maid winner What A Bid Hanover. She will start from post two with trainer Åke Svanstedt doing the driving. She was a 1:51.4 winner in her Del Miller Memorial division last month but went off stride in her Hambletonian Oaks elimination and failed to reach the final. The Sun Stakes Saturday card at Pocono also features the $250,000 Grade 1 James M. Lynch Memorial, for 3-year-old female pacers; $300,000 Grade 2 Max C. Hempt Memorial, for 3-year-old male pacers; and $300,000 Grade 2 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, for 3-year-old male trotters. Miki And Minnie, the sport’s No. 1-ranked horse, is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Lynch, which also includes Canada’s 2024 Horse of the Year, Chantilly, in her first trip away from Ontario’s Woodbine Mohawk Park.  Prince Hal Hanover, coming off victories in the Adios and Carl Milstein Memorial, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Hempt while multiple graded-stakes winner and Hambletonian runner-up Super Chapter gets the 5-2 nod in the Beal.

Favored Hunterton Born & Sold Kadena (Andrew McCarthy) wired the field in 1:52.3 to win the first $30,000 division of this series by a head over My Honor (Gingras) and Grand Reserve (Zeron). The sophomore daughter of Gimpanzee and world champion Mission Brief is trained by Melander. Kadena was bred by Mission Brief Stables and was the sales topper at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at $800,000 for owners Jeffrey Snyder and S R F Stable. The filly paid $4.18 to win. She has now collected $158,017 and her record is 14-5-3-1.

Sophomore pacing filly Hunterton Born Miki And Minnie , just named No. 1 in the North American Top 10 polls, didn’t take long to show the talent that earned her that spot, winning the single third-round Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event held Thursday (Aug. 7) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Going for $109,440, the richest harness purse in eastern Pennsylvania so far this year, the daughter of Always B Miki drew the outside in a field of seven, and driver Dexter Dunn elected to get a seat with Miki And Minnie early as Asphalt took over from Lily White Hanover by the :27.1 first quarter. There was no movement as the field reached the half in :55, but then Time Of The Season came outside with Rodeo Drive Deo — the only horse to beat Miki And Minnie this year — on her helmet, and Dunn’s hand was forced. His filly was able to launch a giant third-quarter uncovered charge to take the lead by the 1:22.2 station near the far turn. From there, the race was for place, as neither Dunn nor Miki And Minnie looked at all unruffled as they won by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:49.4. Rodeo Drive Deo finished strongly to edge Time Of The Season for second. Miki And Minnie is now six-for-seven with $348,222 earned this year and 12-for-18 with $1,182,308 earned lifetime for newly-minted Hall Of Fame trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz. Possibilities for her upcoming schedule include the Lynch Memorial at Pocono on Aug. 16, a Sire Stakes prelim at The Meadows on Aug. 29 if needed or desired, and her $300,000 PASS Championship on Sept. 6, also at The Meadows.

Two $52,500 divisions of New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Aug. 7) evening and there were no surprises as to who won those events as chalk bettors all went home happy. And between stakes and overnight victories, Jason Bartlett won a total of six races on Thursday. In the first of the two splits, Hunterton's Bred, Born & Sold Fragment ( Huntsville -The Show Returns) controlled the field from the lead before pulling away late at 1-9. Jason Bartlett put Fragment on the point and set soft fractions of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:29.2 while the rest of the field stayed on the pegs and tried to keep pace. As the race rounded turn four, Fragment started to pull away and he was clear by three entering the stretch. From there, Fragment was completely unchallenged and pulled away by 4-1/2 lengths at the light in 1:56.2. It was the fourth win in five starts for Fragment ($2.10) who is owned by Engblom Stable and Douglas Sipple and trained by Per Engblom.

On Wednesday (Aug. 6), The Red Mile conducted two cards of contests due to an intense thunderstorm in the area. Endurance collected his fourth consecutive victory in the second round of the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series. The 14-race card also included three $30,000 second round Kentucky Commonwealth Series legs, three $15,000 second round divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and two $10,000 second round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. All events were for 2-year-old male trotters. Favored Deuce Pop (Todd McCarthy) took the second division of this series in 1:55.2 for trainer Randal Jerrell. The son of Tactical Landing -Atlantic Crest paid $3.82 to win. He was bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and is owned by his trainer, breeder and Steve Stewart.