The International Stallion Series for two-year-old filly trotters kicked off the second week of Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile. Three divisions, all sponsored by TROT Magazine, were contested on the Thursday afternoon and two of the fillies trotted faster than the fastest two-year-old trotting colt ever on a one-mile track.
The Jim Campbell-trained Fashion Athena held off a rallying Time To Kill to win the first International Stallion Stake of the day in 1:53.2.
Sina, Vintage Oaks and Ma Chere Hall all left for the lead, while Shared Past was protecting the pylons into the first turn. Sina cleared the front and Vintage Oaks, to her outside, took over the lead from her. Ma Chere Hall tracked the cover from Vintage Oaks and she took the front. Shared Past came first over from fourth and was up to MacDonald’s wheel at the quarter in :27.4.
Fashion Athena came first over at the three-eighths and took command from Shared Past at the half in :55.2 (:27.3). Into the far turn, Time To Kill came first over from second and was progressing slowly approaching three-quarters. Shared Past was starting to falter behind leader Fashion Athena. Fashion Athena was the leader by three-quarters in 1:24.4 (:29.2).
Into the stretch, Fashion Athena held off the bid from Shared Past, but still had a surging Time To Kill on her tail. Sears asked for more from the filly and she found another gear to hold off the rally from Time To Kill to win the first International Stallion Series in 1:53.2 (:28.3).
Fashion Athena ($6) is by Broadway Hall, out of the mare Athena Hanover by Tagliabue. She is owned by Fashion Farms LLC, trained by Jim Campbell and Brian Sears was in the bike.
“I told him [Brian Sears] before that this was the best two-year-old trotting filly that we’ve got [At Fashion Farms]. I also told him whatever she wants to do she’ll show you. She has shown her true colors. She is a good Broadway Hall and has a lot more left in her,” breeder Jules Siegel said.
Super-filly To Dream On received racing luck as a surging Handover Belle stumbled into the sixteenth pole, going off stride. To Dream On equaled the national season’s mark of 1:53.2.
Coffeecake Hanover took the lead, while Cupcake was tucking into second and To Dream On was in third. Parlia Hanover made a break from fourth at the quarter in :27.3. Nobody made a move after Coffeecake Hanover by the half in :56.1 (:28.3). Into the far turn, To Dream On pulled first over and cleared the lead at the five-eighths. Cupcake then came onto the outside and up to Gingras’s wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.3 (:29.2).
Into the stretch, To Dream On was holding off Cupcake. Handover Belle came off cover and began to rally down the center. Almost taking the lead, Handover Belle stumbled and went off stride in the sixteenth pole, so To Dream On held on to win. Cupcake was second, Handover Belle was third and Royal Assets passed faltering rivals to finish fourth. The mile time was 1:53.2 (:27.4).
To Dream On ($2.40) is by Credit Winner, out of the mare Satin Pillows by Conway Hall. She is owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, trained by Jimmy Takter and Yannick Gingras was in the bike.
Mistery Woman beared a first over mile and held off a challenge from Frau Blucher to win the final division of the International Stallion Series in 1:53.3.
With Sugar took the lead, with Aspidistra Hanover in second and Miss Steele in third. With Sugar led the field by the quarter in :28. Aspidistra Hanover came first over passing the three-eighths, then clearing the top approaching the half-mile. With Sugar backed into second through a half in :55.3 (:27.3).
Into the far turn, Mistery Woman came first over in pursuit of Aspidistra Hanover. Speed Dial tracked her cover and Frau Blucher was third over. Mistery Woman took a short lead at three-quarters in 1:24.4 (:29.1).
Into the stretch, Mistery Woman overtook Aspidistra Hanover. Frau Blucher fanned off cover and was surging down the center of the track. Mistery Woman found a little left in the tank and held off the rallying Frau Blucher to win in 1:53.3 (:28.4). Frau Blucher finished second, Aspidistra Hanover was third and Miss Steele finished fourth.
Mistery Woman ($5.80) is by Donato Hanover, out of the mare My Dolly’s Dream by Pine Chip. She is owned by Misty Miller and William Donovan, trained by Jonas Czernyson and David Miller was in the bike.
The world record for a two-year-old trotting filly on a mile track is 1:52.4, set by Snow White in 2007, while the record for a colt is Muscle Hill's 1:53.3 mile time from the 2008 Breeders Crown. Thus, all three fillies were as fast or faster than the fastest freshman trotting colt in harness racing history.
(with files from The Red Mile)