Tioga Downs hosted New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for two-year-old trotting and pacing fillies on Friday, July 31.

Jula Florence ($11.74) earned her second straight NYSS victory, winning the evening's first $73,944 division for trotting fillies in front-end fashion for the mother and son, training and driving team of Julie and Tyler Miller. Jula Florence turned back two separate challenges from eventual third-place finisher Seveallisto (Leon Bailey) in the mile and went on to post a 2-1/2-length victory over favoured Secret Lover (Jason Bartlett). She lowered her lifetime mark to 1:56.4. 

A filly by Chapter Seven out of Ontario Sires Stakes champion Jula Shes Magic, Julia Florence was a $187,500 yearling purchase from last fall's Lexington Select Sale by Andy Miller Stable of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, Windsong Stable of York, Pennsylvania and Dumain Haven Farm of Pine Bush, New York.

Driven by Johnathan Ahle, Kountry Plunge ($3.96) held off slight favourite Hl Kapara (Jason Bartlett) by a neck in 1:55.3 in the second $75,352 division for trotting fillies to remain undefeated in her first two starts for the Ake Svanstedt stable. Wavy Xavie (Jeff Gregory) had the edge in show photo nearly six lengths behind.

Another daughter of Chapter Seven, Kountry Plunge is out of the former Svanstedt trainee Plunge Blue Chip, who was a NYSS champion and multiple Grand Circuit stakes winner. Kountry Plunge was a $277,778 Lexington yearling, purchased by Obm Stable of Delray Beach, Florida, Svanstedt And Midnight Sun of Wrightstown, New Jersey, Bender Sweden of Vero Beach, Florida and Ecurie Diocles Ab of Sigtuna, Sweden.

Undefeated in NYSS action, Cowboy Candy ($5.68) backed off from an early three-wide tussle for the top spot but later kicked home off a three-hole trip to win the first $75,352 division for pacing fillies. Driven by Jason Bartlett, the favoured filly earned her fourth straight stakes win in a career-best 1:51.4 for trainer Aaron Lambert and owner Chain Lightning Stables of Beach Haven, New Jersey. 

Cowboy Candy, a $37,500 Goshen Yearling Sale purchase by her connections, won by two lengths over late-closers Clear Choice (Braxten Boyd) and Maxina (Johnathan Ahle). After losing a neck decision in her June 19 debut at Harrah's Philadelphia, the well-travelled filly has reeled off NYSS wins at Yonkers Raceway, Buffalo Raceway and Vernon Downs heading into this event.

Shuffled to last with a quarter-mile to go, Annie O ($91.70) pulled off a 44-1 upset in the second $76,761 division for pacing fillies. Leon Bailey worked out the winning trip for the Huntsville-Rapunzel Blue Chip filly's first career win after she posted back-to-back fourth-place finishes in two prior NYSS legs. A 1:53.4 winner, she circled her six foes and finished 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Real Choice (Lauren Tritton) with Phast Phyllis edging out the popular pacesetter Fendilicious (Jason Bartlett) to show.

Trainer Andrew Stafford shares ownership of Annie O, who was a $45,833 Lexington yearling acquisition, with Bonnie Benson of  Lewes, Delaware. 

The Millers also took one of the $28,169 divisions of the Excelsior Series on the all-stakes card with trotting filly French Pastry, a 1:58 winner, while Bartlett also drove two division winners on the pace, Shadow Of A Girl (1:54.4) for Annette Lorentzon and Huntrix (1:54.3) for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. 

Matt Kakaley drove three Excelsior winners, teaming up with pacing fillies Prop Bet (1:54) for trainer Travis Alexander and Sharp Idea (1:55.2) for Scott Di Domenico, as well as trotting filly Seven Thirds (1:58.1) for Lucas Wallin. 

Tioga Downs will host live racing next on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 6:15 p.m. 

(Standardbred Canada with files from Tioga Downs; photo of Cowboy Candy winning on July 31)