by Shawn Wiles
Practice is over and now it is for real for the trotting
fillies making their first lifetime ½ mile pari mutual start at Monticello
Raceway on Monday June 25th. The large group of freshmen were on their best
behavior for the most part on a beautiful afternoon.
1-5 favorite Hot Chapter left the gate hard in the first
$26,750 division and had 3 lengths on the pack at the ¼ in 31.2 and continued
to stay on the front through fractions of 1:02,1:32.3 keeping the field at bay
by at least 2 lengths. In the paddock turn Charlie Norris had Just Priceless in
high gear and made a bold move, the daughter Muscles Yankee almost collared
pace setter Hot Chapter at the top of the lane. Just Priceless threw down
a 29.2 last quarter to win by 2 lengths in 2:02.4.
Liquorstoreblues
finished second, followed by Hot Chapter. Just Priceless is trained by Homer
Hochstetler and is a daughter of Muscles Yankee, she garnered her maiden pari
mutual win after winning her first 2 baby races at Vernon Downs.
Scott Zeron and Sensibility tried to score a wire to wire
win over the field of 6 in the second division as she trotted past the panels
in 30.2, 1:01.1, 1:31.4, she had 3 lengths on the field as they trotted down
the lane. Andy Miller had Amal Hall poised in perfect striking distance as she
stalked the pack sitting 3rd most of the mile. Miller pulled her to
the outside down the back side the second time around and she grinded out a win
in 2:02.0, Sensibility finished 2nd, and Conway Kellyanne was 3rd.
Amal Hall (Credit Winner) picked up her maiden win for trainer Julie Miller.
The best race of the day came in the 3rd heat of
NYSS racing for a purse of $27,250, Ake Svanstedt charged hard from the gate
with the steady footed Water Lily Hanover as did With Out A Doubt (Marcus
Miller) who beat Water Lily Hanover to the front end as the duo took the group
thru fractions of 31.1, and 1:02.3. Dan Daley was the first to move with Somermusic’chapter before the half, the eventual race
winner Exotic Diamond pulled at the half looking for cover. Daley tried for the
lead against With Out A Doubt down the backside but the rally came up short and
he tucked in the 2 hole before the ¾ in 1:33. Starting from PP5, Exotic Diamond
took the road less travelled and took the overland route and was way out of
contention but rallied for the win for driver Scott Zeron in a tight photo in
2:05.3, Somermusic’chapter finished a game second, followed by Water Lily
Hanover.
Buzzy Sholty was smart in giving his filly a qualifier start
at over the Catskill Mountains half mile oval last week and it paid dividends
this week. The RC Royalty filly is owned by Joe Lee, Diamond Pride LLC
and Sholty Racing LLC. Early pacesetter With Out A
Doubt faded and finished 5th.
In the final Sire Stakes dash of the afternoon, Andy Miller
floated away from the gate with heavy fav EV’s Girl, only to make a miscue
going to the ¼ pole, Blue Prayer and Dan Daley inherited the lead, taking the
pack to the quarter in 31.3. Winndevie made her move past the ¼ pole,
took the lead and was never headed as she trotted alone by open length’s
through fractions of 1:03.1, 1:33.4 to win by 2 in 2:02.3, trotting her last
quarter in 28.3. Winndevie (Credit Winner) is owned by Purple Haze
Stables LLC. Safe Word and Jeff Gregory finished 2nd with
Hanna Dreamgirl 3rd.
Blue Chip Farms Credit Winner lead all Sires with 3 winners
on the card, 2 year old pacing colts are next on the Sire Stake agenda on July
4th.
