Freedomformysoul
established a new Monticello Raceway track record for freshmen pacing colts
when Jimmy Morrill, Jr. drove the son of If I Can Dream to a 1:55.2 triumph in
their division of the $110,000 NY Sire Stakes. The victory erased the former
standard of 1:55.3 set by Share The Delight during 2007.
Coming
into the race off a stunning 1:53.3 track record last week at Saratoga Raceway
Freedomformysoul was understandably the overwhelming betting favorite and
Morrill used the front-end route for an easy victory over Rockntouch and driver
Yannick Gingras.
After
getting looped on the first turn by Mikado Blue Chip (Mark MacDonald)
Morrill wheeled his colt back to the lead and they passed the first stanza in a
stiff :28.0 and then paced the second quarter in :28.2 reaching the halfway
point in :56.2. From there it was catch me if you can, and no one could.
“I
got to the half faster than I wanted to, so I didn’t even pull the (ear)
plugs.” Morrill admitted after the race. “He’s one of the best 2 year olds I’ve
ever driven. He’s the real deal.”
Owned
by the Freedomformysoul Stable and trained by Nancy Johansson the son of If I
Ca Dream paid $2.30 for win.
Southwind
Masimo won a division of the NYSS in 1:55.4 for Patrick Lachance. That final
time was abetted by speed duel for the lead between We Think Alike (Ray
Schnittker) and Old Man Cleary (Yannick Gingras) with early fractions of :27.1,
:56.2.
Lachance
had Southwind Masimo out after the half and they swept to the front up the
backside and were all by themselves at the wire some 11-lengths ahead of K Ryan
Blue Chip and driver Joe Pavia, Jr.
“They
were playing hardball up front which worked out good for me,” Lachance said in
the winners circle when he stopped for a photograph.
Southwind
Masimo is owned in Canada by Hudson Standardbred Stable and Conrad Leber and
trained by Lachance. The winner paid $27.60 for win.
In
yet another NYSS split Americanprimetime, sent off at odds of over 78-1, lit up
the tote board and paid $161.50 for win when Tyler Buter drove him to victory
in a time of 1:57. They rallied from five lengths back at the top of the lane
to collar Ultimate G, driven by Jason Bartlett.
Americanprime
time is owned by the Rock N Roll Stable and trained by Rick Dane, Jr.
Jason
Bartlett won a pair of $110,000 NYSS splits. His first was with Twin B
Stingray in 1:56.4 pacing a :28- second final stanza en route to victory. And
they needed every bit of that to hold-off Bet You and driver Yannick Gingras by
a head.
Twin
B Stingray is owned by J & T Silva Racing Stable and C C Stables and
trained by Aaron Lambert. He paid $20.20 for win
Bartlett’s
other sire stakes victory came with My Spirit Soars in1:57.2 for owner Daniel
Van Wart.
After
putting My Spirit Soars on the lead, Corey Braden made a quarter pole move
with odds-on favorite JD He’s Da Bomb and Bartlett let them take
command before the half. From there Bartlett bided his time and in the
lane rallied My Spirit Soars to a head victory over Berkley and Scott Zeron.
“I
didn’t want to go with him (Corey Braden) when he came at me near the half so I
let him go. If I didn’t my colt would probably not have gotten a check (piece
of the purse),” Bartlett admitted.
Trained
by Tom Fanning, My Spirit Soars paid $5.90 for win.
Excelsior
Series winners and their drivers included: Can’t It Be Me (2:00-Bruce Aldrich,
Jr.); Southwind Rex (1:58.4-Jeff Gregory); Spiritintheclouds
(2:00.3-Mickey McGivern); Artistic Major (1:59.2-Brent Holland) and Hayden’s
Little Man (1:59.3- Phil Fluet)
