The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) featured two-year-old pacing fillies in action this past Monday, July 3 at Monticello Raceway.

The betting public wagered $598,612 on the 11-race card, which featured four $26,000+ divisions of NYSS and four $20,000 divisions of the Excelsior Series.

In the first NYSS division, favourite So Well Dressed (So Surreal–Gotmydredresstnit) and driver Jordan Stratton took the lead after the :29 opening panel and set middle splits of :58.3 and 1:28.2. Entering the paddock turn, Hunting Hula (Patrick Lachance) mounted a charge on the outside but the threat never materialized and So Well Dressed cruised home a 1-1/4-length winner in 1:57. It was the filly’s second win in as many starts -- both in NYSS competition. She is trained by Chuck Conner Jr. for breeder Janice Connor and co-owner Robert Lovell. Hunting Hula was second, followed by Moderna Hanover (Jason Bartlett).

The second division showcased two excellent fillies: Camerican and Bronx Barista (pictured above). When the gate left, Camerican (Stratton) blasted away from post seven with intentions of making the front end, but so did Bronx Barista, literally muscling her way between horses in the first turn to take the lead for driver Mark MacDonald. From there, she set splits of :28.3 and :58. At the five-eighths pole, Camerican, sitting fourth, took aim on the leader as they went by three-quarters in 1:27. From there, it was a sprint to the wire. With the front-end advantage, Bronx Barista held off a determined Camerican to win by less than a length in 1:55 flat. Bronx Barista, a daughter of Huntsville-Apricot now two-for-two in her career, is owned by trainer Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz and Kitefield Stable. Peace Talks (Marcus Miller) rounded out the top three finishers.

In the third division, Viktoria Blue Chip (Lauren Tritton) worked hard to make the lead after being parked to the opening panel in :29 and then took the field to the half in a rated :59. As the fillies made their way down the backstretch, 30-1 longshot Silly Choice (Greg Merton) got underway in a hurry and got the lead past the three-quarters mark in 1:28.2. Entering the paddock turn, the filly was putting in extra steps with Delightville on the move for Matt Kakaley coming off the last turn. While turning for home, Silly Choice started veering toward the infield and took a bad step and went down. Fortunately, no one was directly behind her. Delightville went on to the 1:57 two-length victory in her career debut with Im A Believer (Stratton) and Lady Saturn (Brett Crawford) finishing second and third. The Travis Alexander-trained daughter of Huntsville-D D Delightful is a homebred for Fiddler's Creek Stables. Silly Choice and Merton both walked away unscathed after the mishap.

There were three lead changes by the opening panel in the final NYSS split with favourite Sea Pearl and Jason Bartlett on top at the quarter in :29.1 and proceeding to the half in :59. They were still single file down the backside, hitting the next station in 1:28.3. Belle Brielle (Marcus Miller) was the first to mount a challenge but to no avail as Sea Pearl scooted home a 5-1/4-length victor in 1:56.4. Belle Brielle was second, followed by Paladio (Kakaley). Sea Pearl (American Ideal–Lady Captain) won her career debut for trainer Linda Toscano and breeder Brittany Farms.

The Excelsior Series winners were: A Few Choice Words (Kakaley) in 1:58.1 for trainer Blake MacIntosh; Petrol Queen (Stratton) in 1:57 for Jacob Hartline; Cheris Choice in 1:59.1 for trainer/driver John Nason; and Chriss Choice (Kakaley) in 1:58.4 for trainer Hunter Oakes.

(With files from Monticello Raceway)