After a two-year-old campaign in which she finished first or second in 10 of 11 starts, Robert and Donnie Taylor’s Little Ms Chrissy finally found the form which netted her nearly $130,000 in earnings last season as she captured Sunday’s $12,000 Betzotic Stake by one length in a career best of 1:56.4.
Patiently handled by owner-trainer-driver Robert Taylor, the daughter of Southwind Breeze-Fox Valley Shiraz came away second to last in the field of six state-bred trotters as her stablemate Just For Fun (Casey Leonard) led the field through splits of :29.4, :59.4 and 1:28.4.
Moving up second over with live cover from Divination (Mike Oosting) as the field reached the top of the stretch, the bay filly was in perfect striking position as the fillies headed for pay dirt.
After the pocket-sitting favourite Sara The Spy (Todd Warren) make a costly break, Taylor began to reel in Just For Fun and the hard-charging Divination. Rattling off an impressive final split of :27.3, Little Ms Chrissy trotted right by the top pair for her first win in five tries this year. Divination was second, while Just For Fun held on for third.
With the win, Little Ms Chrissy now owns a record of seven wins, four seconds and one third in 16 starts with earnings of $142,845 for her proud connections.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, Little Ms Chrissy returned $5.00.
(Balmoral Park)