Practice is over and now it is for real for the trotting fillies making their first lifetime half-mile pari-mutuel start at Monticello Raceway on Monday. The large group of freshmen were on their best behaviour for the most part on a beautiful afternoon.
Odds-on favourite Hot Chapter left the gate hard in the first $26,750 division and had three lengths on the pack at the quarter in :31.2 and continued to stay on the front through fractions of 1:02 and 1:32.3 keeping the field at bay by at least two 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 two 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-mutuel win after winning her first two baby races at Vernon Downs.
Scott Zeron and Sensibility tried to score a wire-to-wire win over the field of six in the second division as she trotted past the panels in :30.2, 1:01.1 and 1:31.4, she had three 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 third most of the mile. Miller pulled her to the outside down the backside the second time around and she grinded out a win in 2:02. Sensibility finished second, and Conway Kellyanne was third.
Amal Hall (Credit Winner) picked up her maiden win for trainer Julie Miller.
The best race of the day came in the third 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 Somermusicchapter 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 two-hole before the three-quarters in 1:33. Starting from Post 5, 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, Somermusicchapter 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.
In the final Sire Stakes dash of the afternoon, Andy Miller floated away from the gate with heavy fave EVs Girl, only to make a miscue going to the quarter pole, Blue Prayer and Dan Daley inherited the lead, taking the pack to the quarter in :31.3. Winndevie made her move past the quarter pole, took the lead and was never headed as she trotted alone by open lengths through fractions of 1:03.1 and 1:33.4 to win by two lengths in 2:02.3, trotting her last quarter in 28.3. Safe Word and Jeff Gregory finished second with Hanna Dreamgirl third.
Winndevie (Credit Winner) is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC.
Blue Chip Farms Credit Winner lead all Sires with three winners on the card, two-year-old pacing colts are next on the Sires Stake agenda on July 4th.
(Monticello Raceway)