Sylvia Hanover steals show in world-record Barton
At 0h03, on July 21, 2025 • By Tim Bojarski, Plainridge Park
The biggest day of racing this summer at Plainridge Park did not disappoint as records fell left and right amid strong competition on Sunday (July 20).
In the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, Sylvia Hanover waited over a half mile to make her move, but when Tim Tetrick said “go”, she paced her way into the record books by setting a new world record for a pacing mare over a five-eighths mile track after winning the Clara Barton for the second consecutive year.
Sylvia Hanover got away fourth as Valar Dohaeris (Yannick Gingras) parked Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) to the quarter in :25.3. As the dust settled there, Dexter Dunn made his move to the front with Twin B Joe Fresh and she was on top passing the half in :53.2.
Twin B Joe Fresh was pacing sharply on the lead, but Tetrick was then out and rolling with Sylvia Hanover and the two mares hooked up at three-quarters in 1:20.1. Twin B Joe Fresh and Sylvia Hanover paced stride for stride around the last turn and into the stretch where Sylvia Hanover started to separate from the field and eventually bolted home to a 4-1/2 length victory in 1:47.2.
The time of 1:47.2 was a new world record for a pacing mare on a five-eighths mile track. The previous record was 1:48 set by Somewherovrarainbow (2014) and Shartin N (2019).
It was also the fastest pacing mile by a mare in 2025 over any size track, surpassing Twin B Joe Fresh’s Mark of 1:48.1, a new stake record for the Barton, a new all-time track pacing record at Plainridge Park and a new lifetime mark for the winner.
Sylvia Hanover also went over the $2 million mark in lifetime earnings on the strength of her win, now boasting $2,011,299 in career purses.
Sylvia Hanover ($10.20) is owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable and trained by Mark Steacy.
