by Michael Chamberlain, Vernon Downs Publicity
The New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies
highlighted a 13-race program on Thursday night at Vernon Downs with four
separate divisions being the focus of the night.
The $27,750 first division (Race 5) went to Frou Frou
(Conway Hall-Nowerland Hana) in 1:58.1. Frou Frou (Brett Miller) followed live
cover from Northern Obsession (Ray Schnittker) and just blasted on by in the
stretch to win going away. Northern Obsession ended up third after getting
passed by My Lucky Word (Corey Callahan), who enjoyed the third-over trip,
and ended up wearing down her rival for the second spot. Frou Frou is
owned by Leigh Raymer of Magnolia, Delaware, James A. Crawford IV of Manilus,
New York, and Crawford Partners LLC of Syracuse, New York. Leigh Raymer is also
the trainer of Frou Frou.
The $27,750 second division (Race 7) was a gate-to-wire
victory for Concentration (Conway Hall-Super Starlet). Concentration (Chris
Lems) took control as soon as the gate opened and never looked back,
staying in front all the way to win in 1:58.2. Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory) had the
first-over trip up the backstretch and ended up finishing second, with Lock
Down Lindy (Scott Zeron) finishing third. Concentration is owned by Raymond
W.J. Campbell Jr. of Belchertown, Massachusetts and trained by George Ducharme.
She had won two 2-year-old qualifiers at Vernon Downs earlier in June before
this first pari-mutuel score.
The $27,750 third division (Race 9) was won by Zanna Blu (Rc
Royalty-Zann's Fan) after she set the early pace of 29.1 for the quarter and
1:00.3 for the half. Zanna Blu (Gates Brunet) was then passed on the
backstretch after a strong charge from Spell That (John Stark Jr.), who led
into the stretch. Zanna Blu re-rallied to pass Spell That for the victory in
the late stages of the race in 1:59.1. Up Chuckie (Rick Zeron) finished third.
Zanna Blu is owned by Crawford Partners LLC of Syracuse, New York and James A.
Crawford of Manilus, New York. Driver Gates Brunet doubles as the trainer.
The $27,250 fourth division (Race 11) might have provided
the most exciting finish of the night with Hot Start (Lucky Chucky-Mallelujah)
getting the win in 1:59.1. Hot Start (Corey Callahan) appeared hopelessly
bottled up at the pylons in the stretch, but managed to work free in the last
eighth of a mile and get up in time for the victory over Photo Message (Robert
Shepherd) and the longtime leader, Cherry Crown Jewel (Dan Daley). Photo
Message, in fact, also got past Cherry Crown Jewel in the shadow of the wire
after being parked outside at the top of the stretch. Hot Start is owned by
Green Acquisition Corporation of Canfield, Ohio and trained by Jonas Czernyson.
