On Monday afternoon (August 21) at Monticello Raceway, a
rare solar eclipse took place which had little to no effect for its duration as
the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-Year-Old Filly Trotters dominated the
program. The Sire Stakes laden card was marred by 12 scratches due to sickness
that has hit many stables extremely hard over the past 2 weeks.
In this first heat of NYSS going for a purse of $36,566, saw
Supergirl Riley and Girl Talk battle for early position going to the ¼ in 29.0.
Once on the lead, Supergirl Riley was at half in 58.2 and had 2 lengths on the
field, the gap widened at the ¾ pole where she was up by 3 lengths, tripping
the beam in 1:28.1, at this point Lima Novelty was underway from the back of
the pack. Supergirl Riley’s lead diminished at the top of the stretch,
Lima Novelty continued to range into contention and uncorked a 28.2 last
quarter to score in 1:57.3, obliterating the old record of 1:59.2 formally held
by Shaqline and lady Riviera. Lima Novelty is owned by Kenneth Jacobs, the
Chapter Seven filly is trained by Linda Toscano, it was her 3rd
consecutive win in Sire Stake company, Jason Bartlett drove the filly.
In the 2nd division of Sire Stakes in race 3, saw
the better half of the Ake Svanstedt entry, Plunge Blue Chip scratched due to
illness. This left Fury Road (PP3) barred from wagering and raced for
purse only, the filly she took advantage of the absence of her sick stable mate
and wired the field in 2:00.4, to score by a head over Lucky Rainbow and White
Cheetah. The Muscle Mass filly was trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt for
owner Knutsson Training Inc. of Delray Beach Florida.
Jackie Newlands tried the down the road tactic, but faltered
of the head of the lane and made a break in the final division of Sire Stakes after
setting fractions of 29.3, 1:00.1 and 1:29.3. Lucky Ava inherited the lead
followed by Setntheworldonfire, Sevenbuyeleven who sat 4th bidding
her time the entire mile was fresh of the head on the lane. The Chapter
Seven filly streaked home in 28.4 to prevail in a tight photo over Lucky
Ava. Jason Bartlett drove for owner Kenneth Jacobs of Baldwinsville NY.
In the first Excelsior A event going for a purse of $15,000
saw Barn Bliss ($3.20) score in 2:01.3 for the Barn Wizard Steve Pratt. The
other Excelsior A winners where Southwind Cookie 2:01.2, Chaperess 1:59.1, Pain
in the Mass 2:00 and A Thing Goin On scored in 2:02.1, to give Jason Bartlett
his 4th win of the afternoon. The B class Excelsior’s went for
a purse of $6,600, saw Irish Kate win the first split in 2:05.1, in a
non-betting race, Grammy Winner won by 27 lengths in 2:02.1 for Tyler Buter and
Video Chic 2:02.1.
On the afternoon, Jason Bartlett won 4 races, Trond
Smedshammer trained and drove 2 winners, Linda Toscano notched 3 training wins’,
Ake Svanstedt had 2 training wins and owners Ken Jacobs and Purple Haze Stable
each garnered an owner double.
Chapter 7 was the winning sire, as 5 of his daughters
entered the winners circle. Credit Winner and Muscle Mass were tied in the
place spot with 2 winners each.
New York Sire Stakes action returns to Monticello Raceway on
August 28 when 2-Year-old Colt Pacers come to town.
