Oaks starter raising awareness for ovarian cancer

East Rutherford, NJ — The color of the day at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Aug. 6) will be silver, for the glistening Hambletonian and Oaks trophies that are the object of dreams for many harness racing owners.

But the complementary color of the day will be teal, for ovarian cancer awareness. The longtime girlfriend of Hambletonian trophy presenter, NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Sherry Pollex, is an ovarian cancer survivor and advocate for others fighting the disease. The owner of a women's clothing and accessories store, Pollex has a website, www.sherrystrong.org, which provides information and news for those dealing with ovarian cancer.

To honor her commitment, trainer Jonas Czernyson and his wife Christine will ask Pollex to sign a teal ribbon to be braided into the mane of Hambletonian Oaks contender Side Bet Hanover shortly before she races.

This is not the first time the Czernysons have been involved in building awareness and raising funds to fight the disease.

"It started last year with Aldebaran Eagle," said Christine Czernyson of the now 4-year old trotter who has a mark of 1:52.1 and earnings of $209,243 and is trained by Jonas. "The owner of Aldebaran Eagle is Duncan McPherson from Australia and his wife, Lyn, passed away from ovarian cancer. Jonas and I wanted to do something for Duncan, who's very involved in ovarian cancer awareness in Australia. We had the horse racing for ovarian cancer awareness and we gave a percentage of his earnings last year to the cause, it was almost $2,000.

"We put out an initiave and said we'd love for Eagle to be racing not only for Lyn McPherson, but for all the angels that have passed away from ovarian cancer, and also the survivors. We wrote the names of all the people who wrote to us on teal ribbons, and Eagle will actually be racing tonight (Friday, August 5, race five) at The Meadowlands with all of those survicors and angels' names on ribbons in his mane. We have almost 50 – it involves three ribbons."

The Czernysons are extending the ribbon project to Side Bet Hanover for the rest of 2016 and will donate a percentage of her earnings for all of 2016. The filly, who won her elimination of the Hambletonian Oaks at odds of 38-1, is rated at 8-1 for the final from post four.

"My aunt, Kathy Terrazas, passed away from ovarian cancer, so it is a cause close to my heart," said Christine Czernyson. "We do this in honor of her and Sherry Pollex. She will be racing with the ribbons of all of Eagle's angels and survivors."

$500,000 Hambletonian Oaks

Race 12 – Post time 4:41 p.m.

PP-Horse-Sire–Driver-Trainer-Morning Line

1. Caprice Hill – Kadabra – Tim Tetrick–Tony Alagna–5/2

2. Celebrity Eventsy – Manofmanymissions – John Campbell–Staffan Lind–6/1

3. Dream Child – Muscle Hill – Scott Zeron–Linda Toscano–30/1

4. Side Bet Hanover – Donato Hanover – Corey Callahan–Jonas Czernyson–8/1

5. Windowshopper – Donato Hanover – Brian Sears–Ake Svanstedt–40/1

6. All The Time – Muscle Hill – Yannick Gingras–Jimmy Takter–9/5

7. Broadway Donna – Donato Hanover – David Miller–Jim Campbell–7/2

8. Wildflower – Muscle Hill – Ake Svanstedt–Ake Svanstedt–30/1

9. Black Broadway – Broadway Hall – Brett Miller–Michael Eaton–50/1

10. Double Exposure – Donato Hanover – Tim Tetrick–Tony Alagna–15/1

 

by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications