Some of the country’s top 3-year-old pacing fillies were on
hand on Tuesday afternoon, August 28 to compete in three $54,125
divisions of the New York Sire Stakes. When they were completed the former
track mark -- for their age and gait-- of 1:53.3, which was set in 2007
by Omen Hanover and driver Daniel Dube, was initially lowered to
1:52.4 by Handsoffmycookie. Then four races later Romantic Moment eased
that standard when she was victorious in 1:52.3. A third split was won by
another top filly, Major Look in 1:53.3.
“It was definitely an exciting afternoon for racing fans,
not only with top fillies here but with top drivers too,” noted Eric Warner the
tracks director of racing. “There are seasons that go by without any new
marks and then to have a track record fall twice on one day is amazing,
especially when it happened in sire stakes action two weeks ago with the
2-year-old pacing fillies.”
Railbirds were treated to the expertise of driver Tim
Tetrick who was on hand to drive Handsoffmycookie. And right from the get-go
there was little doubt that the Art Major-Observe Me filly would prevail.
Leaving from the three hole Tetrick took Handsoffmycookie to
the front and led the field by the quarter in a solid :27.3 with George Brennan
and New York Kitty chasing him in the two-hole.
The leaders raced one-two by the half in :56.3 and
were still in that order as they paced into the final turn.
From there it was all Handsoffmycookie who opened up
daylight with every stride and finished six lengths ahead of JK Fine Art
and driver Ron Pierce. New York Kitty hung on for the show dough.
Trained by Scott DiDomenico for the Jfe Enterprises,
Handsoffmycookie returned a $2.40 win mutueland raised her seasonal
earnings to $261,895.
Similar to what happened when the NYSS freshman
fillies here on August 16 the initial track record didn’t last long when
Brittany Farms Romantic Moment circled the double-oval in 1:52.3
for Yannick Gringas.
Sent off ten cents on a dollar, the daughter of
American Ideal-Time N Again took command early and never was challenged
as she slipped through fractions of :28, :56.2, and 1:24.4 before pouring on a
:27.4 final stanza to record a four- length victory over Ramalama and
driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr. Third place went to Brownsville Bomber in rein
to Jason Bartlett.
Trained by Jimmy Takter, Romantic Moment scored her sixth
triumph in just nine starts and raised her seasonal bankroll to
$555,573, currently fifth best in North America.
In the final $54,125 split the Kevin McDermott-trained,
Major Look and driver Jeff Gregory, started slowly and were six lengths
behind at the quarter as Shelliscape (Jason Bartlett) and Bettor B Lucky
(Jimmy Morrill, Jr.) battled for the lead. The former gained command and in
:27.2 and then led the five others by the half in :56.3 at which point
Gregory set sails first-up with Major Look. They gained ground
slowly and at the third stanza they were in third position just 1 ½
lengths off the leader. On the final turn Shelliscape still had command
but trouble was coming.
In the lane Bettor B Lucky and Major Look charged by the
leader and raced head to head with Gregory’s filly getting the nod at the wire.
Shelliscape held on for third money.
Owned by Joseph Balkunas, Mark Giordano and Anthony
Pancella, Major Look paid $4.10 for win. It was the filly’s seventh
triumph of the season which raised her earnings to $256,242.
A trio of $12,700 splits in the Excelsior Series also
for sophomore pacing fillies supplied solid undercard. Winners
included: Blows Me Away (1:55.4-Jimmy Marohn. Jr.); Canamerica (1:57-John
Stark, Jr.) and Twin B My Way (1:56-Jimmy Morrill, Jr.)
