The sophomore trotting fillies will strut their stuff at
Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon (August 15) in the $160,000 New York
Sire Stakes and they will be joined by other 3 year old fillies who’ll compete
for over $64,000 in the Excelsior Series. The Sire Stakes divisions will each
go for purses in excess of $53,000 while each of the Excelsior Series splits is
worth $12,700.
Although she’s not invincible, Lola De Vie figures to be the
odds on favorite in her $53,383 NYSS division. Already this year the
daughter of Credit Winner- Fan Favourite has won six times in nine tries
including the $ 237,600Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Down on June9 in
a 1:55.2 clocking.
Owned by the Joie De Vie Farm and trained by Chris Ryder,
Lola De Vie already has $249,039 on her card and she’ll have Jimmy
Morrill, Jr. in the sulky when she leaves from the five
hole.
But trouble may be loom in the presence of Alphadoodle, also
a Credit Winner filly but out of Ella Minnow Pea. She sports a
1:57.1 triumph over the half-mile track at Yonkers Raceway on July 8. With over
$76,000 bankrolled this year the mostly Canadian-owned filly will
be driven by Stephane Bouchard and start from the pole position.
Steve and Nancy Pratt’s , Barn Babe, is the early line
favorite in her $53,383 division. This daughter of Cash Hall-My Baby’s
Momma won a NYSS split at Batavia Downs in 1:58.1 and owns a sophomore record
of 1:54.2 which she earned at Tioga Downs also in Sire Stakes action.
John Cummings Jr. will handle the driving chores and they’ll start from the
pylon position.
Perhaps the stiffest competition will be supplied by the Dan
Daley-driven Royal Malinda who’ll leave from the three-hole. This RC
Royalty-Linda Mac filly has been on the board nine times in 13 starts with the
fastest of her two victories a 1:55.2 effort at Vernon Downs on
July 19. She is owned by Ann Mari Daley, the Purple Haze Stable and
Richard Lombardo.
A third NYSS split for a $52,383 purse, has Long Island
Tea as the 5-2 early favorite. The daughter of Credit Winner- Tea Muscles
comes into the contest off a 1:54.4 win at Vernon Downs on August 2. Unraced at
two, Paul Kelley trains the filly who has won six of 10 races this year and
purses in excess of $61,000 for owner Steve Stewart.
However, the Cat Manzi- driven Wygant Lady has won a NYSS
trot at Yonkers Raceway in 1:56.1 July 8 and figures to be a formidable foe
from the two- hole. The daughter of Credit Winner-Rose Street Angel has already
earned over $102,000 for owners Taylor Gower and Alan Stull
And though she is yet to return to her freshman form, the
now Linda Toscano-trained Lady Riviera has only had four starts this year
without a victory. Last season she won four of nine and earned over $129,000.
Toscano will hand the lines to Jimmy Morrill, Jr. when the filly starts
from post four.
The NYSS splits will be races one, five and eight on the
card while the Excelsior divisions will go as races four, six,
nine, 11 and 12.
The 14 race program will get underway at 12:50pm.
