John Horne for Vernon Downs.
Vernon Downs featured three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old pacing fillies, on Thursday (July 12). All three divisions raced for a purse of $39,900 each.
Ms Cheesman (John MacDonald) takes the first division.
The favorite Newsday (Jim Marohn Jr.) took over the lead just before the first quarter mark. She controlled all the early fractions (:26.2, :55.0, 1:24.2).
Ms Cheesman ($9.50) followed in the pocket trip for the first three-quarters of the mile. Owned by Bay Pond Racing and trained by Jessica Okusko, she would go first-over at the top of the stretch and blow right by to win in a lifetime best time of 1:52.2. Presto Blue Chip (Drew Monti) charged late to finish second. Checkered Past (Jim Morrill Jr) was third best.
Ms Cheesman is a 3-year-old filly by Betterthancheddar. It was her fourth win this season and it was career victory number five.
Pueblo Blue Chip (Matt Kakaley) edges Ubettergo Go (Mark MacDonald) in the second division of the NYSS.
Betterthanbrie (Josert Fonseca) charged to the front and led the group to a first quarter of :28.0. Ubettergo Go went to the lead just after the quarter. She would lead them to a half of :56.4 and to three-quarters in 1:25.0.
Pueblo Blue Chip ($5.20) went first over from third just before the three-quarter pole. Trained by Ron Burke for owners Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Menary Racing Inc., and Michael Guerrero, she would trade blows with Ubettergo Go all the way down the stretch. Halfway down the stretch they were joined by third place finisher Azreal As It Gets (John MacDonald). Pueblo Blue Chip used one last lunge to win in a lifetime best mark of 1:52.2. Ubettergo Go had to settle for second.
Pueblo Blue Chip is a 3-year-old filly by American Ideal. It was her third win in four starts of 2018. She nailed down career victory number four.
Dance Blue (Josert Fonseca) is an upset winner in the third division.
Apothic (Mark MacDonald) led the group to a first quarter time of :27.0. The lead was short lived as Jewels Forreal (Matt Kakaley) took over and led to the halfway point in :55.4.
Dance Blue ($17.60) took control just after the half and led them to three-quarters in 1:23.1. Trained by Nancy Johansson for owners Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, and Goran Anderberg, she breezed home in the stretch to win in a lifetime best of 1:51.2. Jewels Forreal was second best with Apothic finishing third.
Dance Blue is a 3-year-old filly by Rock N Roll Heaven. She secured her second win of her season and her career.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday with a 13 race card starting at 6:10.
