Joviality S, a New York Sire Stakes champion last year, began her sophomore campaign with a sparkling 1:53.2 victory in the first of a trio of $56,000 NYSS flights for three-year-old trotting fillies on Monday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Trainer Tony Alagna and owner Crawford Farms Racing won the other two divisions with Valentina Blu and La Vie En Blanc.

Starting from post five and driven by Brian Sears, Joviality S went right to the front and led Lady Suffolk champion Little Pink Lies (Ake Svanstedt) through fractions of :27.4, :56.4, and 1:25.4 while heavy rain fell. Sears tapped his filly once with the whip nearing three-quarters, and Joviality S's response was devastating to the other horses as she kicked home in :27.3 to win by 7-1/2 lengths, missing the track record for the division by just a fifth of a second. Little Pink Lies was the runner-up and Deli Tessel (Dexter Dunn) came in third.

A homebred for Courant Inc, Joviality S is trained by Marcus Melander. The daughter of Chapter Seven has a record of 10-2-0 from 13 career starts, and he has now earned $923,341. She paid $2.10 to win.

In the second split Gertrude (Andy Miller) posted panels of :28.2, :58, and 1:26.4, but would be overtaken by a first-over Bare My Soul (Scott Zeron) on the last turn. When Bare My Soul took command, that left favourite Valentina Blu (Andrew McCarthy) first-over, and she appeared to be stalled and perhaps in trouble as Bare My Soul got some separation. However, McCarthy popped the earplugs late on the final bend, and that's when Valentina Blu hit top gear. She had some work to do to chase down Bare My Soul, but she was able to do so, getting up to tally by a neck in 1:55.4. Pioneer AS (Dunn) was third after following along behind the top two in cover flow.

Valentina Blu, a filly by Chapter Seven, was bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard Holdings USA Inc. This was her second win from 14 lifetime tries, and she has now banked $364,703. Sent off at 3-5, she returned $3.20 to win.

The last sire stakes showdown saw Gettinmystepsin (Miller) on the point at the :28.1 quarter, :58.4 half, and 1:28.4 three-quarters. Gettinmystepsin continued to show the way around the last turn and into the stretch, but La Vie En Blanc (Dunn), who pulled out first-over coming to three-quarters and advanced into second on the final bend, was able to get by her through the drive, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.4. Gettinmystepsin held second over Seven On The Rocks (John Stark, Jr.).

A Chapter Seven half-sister to 2020 Hambletonian champion Ramona Hill, La Vie En Blanc was also bred by Crawford Farms. She made her second appearance in the winner's circle from 11 attempts, and she has now pocketed $60,486. The 5-2 second choice, she paid $7.80 to win.

Crawford Farms also won one of the two $15,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series tilts that took place with Je Suis Si Belle , a daughter of Chapter Seven they bred and co-own with driver Andy Miller and partner Mortgage Boys Stable. Julie Miller was the victorious trainer.

The other grouping in that event went to Perfect Vixen, a Muscles Yankee filly bred by Cozette McAvoy, in 1:57.1. Trainer John Stark, Jr. drove her for owners Edward Reich and Irwin Lampert.

Yonkers Raceway will close out this week with programs on Tuesday (May 17), Thursday (May 19), Friday (May 20), and Saturday (May 21), and then will be dark until resuming racing on Tuesday, May 31.

(Yonkers)

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