Stepabovetherest and Tarrific were both winners in 1:49.4, a track record for sophomore pacing fillies, in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Vernon Downs on Friday, June 21.
Stepabovetherest ($12.20) and driver Braxten Boyd charged late to win the first $78,082 NYSS division.
Ponynamedwildfire (Mark MacDonald) sprinted to the quarter in :25.4 and continued to lead to the half in :53.3 and three-quarters in 1:21.3. The favourite, Peace Talks (Jason Barlett), pulled the pocket and took the lead heading around the far turn, but as the fillies reached the stretch, Stepabovetherest came flying out of third and blew right on by to win in a divisional track record time of 1:49.4. Peace Talks settled for second, 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, and Camerican (Jim Marohn Jr.) finished third.
Stepabovetherest, a lightly raced filly by Huntsville, is trained by Nicholas Devita for owners David Hamm and Glenn Phillips. A winner in her career debut on June 2 in the Excelsior Series, she is now two-for-three lifetime.
Tarrific ($2.10) dominated the field in the second NYSS division with Jason Bartlett along for the ride.
Shes Epic (Braxten Boyd) was the early leader, but Tarrific took control just before hitting the quarter first in :27.3. She went :27.3 again in the second and third quarters before capping it off with a :27 final frame to equal the 1:49.4 divisional track record in a 9-1/4-length romp. Fresh Legs (Jim Marohn Jr.) and Blue Point (Brett Beckwith) were the best of the rest.
Also a daughter of Huntsville, Tarrific is trained by Chris Ryder and owned by Margaret Dey and Let It Ride Stables. After going winless in seven starts as a freshman, she has won back-to-back NYSS races in her first four sophomore starts.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, June 22 with a 15-race card starting at 6:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs; Photo of Tarrific winning her NYSS division on June 21)