O'Brien Award winning pacing filly Precocious Beauty kicked off her sophomore campaign with a 1:52.4 triumph in Friday night's New York Sire Stakes at Vernon Downs for the Canadian father-son team of driver Doug and trainer Gregg McNair.
After settling away fourth through a :27.4 opening quarter in her $41,300 division, Doug McNair sent Precocious Beauty to the lead and cleared at the :57.2 half-mile mark. The 6-5 favourite faced no serious challenges the rest of the mile as she passed three-quarters in 1:25.2 and cruised home with Blush Hanover (Tim Tetrick) following over a length behind in second. Just Add Vodka (Jim Morrill Jr.) finished third.
Owned by Kentucky's James Avritt Sr., the Art Major-Precious Beauty filly won seven of her 11 starts last year and banked $462,912 in purses.
Precocious Beauty paid $4.70 to win.
Bettors Delight daughters Bettor Chill Out and Table Talk turned in matching 1:52 career-best victories in the other NYSS divisions.
The two "A" divisions of the New York Excelsior Series were won by Ubettorbeturlife (1:52.1) and Spreester (1:53.2) while the "B" divisions went to Aritzia Hanover (1:55.2) and Whimsies (1:55.3).
The fields for the Empire Breeders Classic trots were determined with four $12,500 eliminations -- two for the colts/geldings and two for the fillies -- also contested on Friday's card.
Making an incredible comeback in the first colt elimination after breaking stride in the stretch from the pocket, Karets recovered and won a three-way photo finish over Rocky De Vie and Hallanet in 1:55.4. It was over 10 lengths back to the fourth-place finisher, Cashamatic. Crazzy Crazzy was fifth while the favourite, Lukas Hall, failed to advance after making his own miscue at the three-quarters. Tim Tetrick drove the winner for trainer Paul Reid and owner/breeder Robert Key.
After giving way to Mister Bs Way early on, John Grasso Stable's homebred Expressive Action prevailed up the inside in the next colt elimination, stopping the clock in 1:55.3. The even-money favourite was driven by Mike Simons. Wild And Crazy Guy finished one length behind in second with third going to Cash For Gold. Daley Lovin inherited fourth as Mister Bs Way was set back to fifth following a miscue in the stretch.
Early leader and odds-on favourite Avalicious retook the lead from Annies List in the final stride to win the first filly elimination by a nose in 1:55.2. Cutup Hanover finished less than a length behind in third with Slice Slice Baby and Lady With Credit earning the final paycheques in fourth and fifth. Jim Morrill Jr. was the winning driver for trainer Leigh Raymer and owners Michelle, Albert, and Patricia Crawford.
Purple Haze Stables' Crediama advanced first over from fourth at the half to take the final filly elimination in 1:55.4 with Tetrick aboard for trainer Trond Smedshammer. Favourite Glowngold finished over three lengths behind in second with Winning Pursuit, pacesetter Driving Miss Crazy and Beauty Of Gray coming in third through fifth.
In regular racing action, Evil Urges and driver Jimmy Whittemore Jr. defeated A Penny Earned by a half-length in 1:54.3 in the weekly $10,000 Open Trot.