The weatherman cooperated wonderfully on Thursday afternoon,
August 15 with the sun shining brightly and the temperatures hovering around
75-degrees.
On the racetrack sophomore trotting fillies were featured in
three divisions of the $155,000 NY Sires Stakes and five splits of Excelsior
Series trots each racing for a $12,700 purse. And to go along with the NYSS
filly trots there were two overnight trots, and despite 10 trotting races on
the half-mile track still fans wagered $746,943 on the racing card.
By and large the competing fillies were well behaved
and as usual some stood out.
Bouncing Bax’s 1:58.2 triumph in her $52,383 division turned
out to be the fastest filly trot of the afternoon although Proclaiming April’s
1:58.2 victory was just a tick slower. And although Barn Babe’s 2:00.2 was the
slowest of the three splits it was, nevertheless , equally as impressive and
she was the only betting favorite to win an NYSS trot today.
The triumph by Bouncing Bax over the odds-on favorite, Long
Island Tea, was not only the fastest trip of the day but the daughter of
Credit Winner-Bax Machine sparked the biggest pay-off on the
afternoon card when she returned a $40.80 win mutuel.
In her split, Bouncing Bax got away slowly and after racing
along in fourth position some nine lengths off the lead at the three-eighths
pole, so driver Howard Parker moved his filly first-up and she
continually moved forward and at the top of the lane she was just a head
off the pace-setter Wygant Girl, driven by Cat Manzi.
When they straightened for home Bouncing Bax
trotted around Wygant Lady and then held off a strong late rally by
the $135,000 yearling purchase Long Island Tea, driven by Brian Mattison.
Wygant Lady faded and finished third.
Trainer Jim Raymer joined Parker for the winners circle
photograph and was getting ready to hold the filly for a picture when he
overheard Parker being asked how come she was so great today?
Parker didn’t have a chance answer because Raymer turned
quickly and said, “She was that great last week at Vernon (Downs) too, but I
just didn’t drive her right.”
Owned by the Harbor Racing Stable of Houston, Texas it was
the filly’s first win in 10 starts this year and she raised her seasonal
bankroll to nearly $73,000.
In her $53,383 division Proclaiming April, a daughter of
Conway Hall-Lawn Tennis, raced unchallenged on the front end and was an easy
winner over the odds on favorite Lola De Vie.
Trainer Trond Smedshammer was in the bike and hustled
Proclaiming April to front and they had a two length lead by the first
stanza in :29.1. At the half in :59.2, favored Lola De Vie and
driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr. were in third place some 4-1/2 lengths behind the
leader.
Lola De Vie closed to within two lengths of the lead at
the head of the stretch but in no way could she reel-in Proclaiming April
who led her to the wire for an easy 1-1/2 length victory. Fifty Shades and
driver Mark MacDonald took home the show dough.
“She’s been a good filly all year but last week we had
a bad post and she finished back,” Smedshammer said of Proclaiming April who
now has bankrolled nearly $150,000 this season. “Post positions make a
big difference everywhere but especially on a half mile track.”
Proclaiming April paid $12.40 for win and is owned by the
White Birch Farm.
The other $53,383 split was an oh-so-easy victory for
Steven and Nancy Pratt’s, Barn Babe. Sent off as the 1-4 favorite from
the pole position, driver John Cummings, Jr. naturally took the lead and
despite soft early fractions of :30.3 and 1:02 no one wanted to challenge the
daughter of Cash Hall-My Baby’s Momma.
As the field headed into the clubhouse turn the pace began
to quicken and Barn Babe had a two length lead as she passed the third
stanza in 1:31:4. From there, with a :28.3 final quarter, Barn Babe was
home free by three lengths in 2:00.2 over Royal Malinda and driver
Dan Daley. Bostonz Credit was third for Jeff Gregory.
After the race Cummings was asked if he was worried going
into the race. “I knew she was the best and we got away with an easy front-end
trip but she would have handled this field racing from the back,
too.”
Now with six wins and three thirds in 11 starts Barn Babe
has bankrolled almost $99,000 this year and has lifetime earnings in
excess of $245,000.
Owner Steve Pratt joined Cummings in the winners circle and
he couldn’t resist saying “Not bad for a $5,000 purchase two years ago at (the)
Morrisville (Sale).
Five $12,700 divisions of the Excelsior Series , also for 3
year-old trotting fillies, comprised the undercard of which two were won by
Gates Brunet.
The veteran horseman scored with Bluish And Crush ($8.00) in
2:01.4 and with Tamasin Hall($9.80)m in 2:00.1.
Brunet, who trucked in from Vernon NY after his final
victory said,” I hated to coming here today because I thought both of my
fillies would run since they have been racing on big tracks but I was
pleasantly surprised because they stayed at their business and went good
miles.” .
Other Excelsior winners were Money Show ($4.00) in 2:02 for
Jimmy Morrill, Jr., Makes Me Crazy ($6.20) in 2:01.2 for Claude Huckabone Jr.
and Maggie O ($3.20) in 2:00.4 again for Jimmy Morrill, Jr.
