New York-bred sophomore filly pacers were on display on Friday afternoon, June 6 at Monticello Raceway with four New York Sire Stakes and four Excelsior Series events.
The queen of the card turned out to be Spreester when the daughter of American Ideal toured the oval in a lifetime-best of 1:54.1 to win her $29,850 split.
“She was just great today,” noted driver Jason Bartlett. “We brushed to the top at the half and she scooted away and was pretty much in control from there on, especially when she kicked in a :28 last quarter.”
Spreester is undefeated at the Mighty M having won twice in the Excelsior Series as a two-year-old, including the $45,000 series finale.
She came into today’s contest off a 1:53.2 victory in an Excelsior Series pace at Vernon Downs last Saturday and she handled the move up to the NYSS without a bit of trouble. The betting favourite, Better Chill Out, driven by Jeff Gregory, chased Spreester to the wire, but finished one and a half lengths behind the winner.
Owned by Kimberly Zabielski and trained by Paul Zabielski, Spreester paid $6.30 for win.
Jimmy Morrill Jr. won a pair of NYSS races; first with Just Add Vodka in 1:55.3 and then with Carlota Blue Chip in 1:55.
Morrill worked out a perfect two-hole trip with Just Add Vodka when he shadowed pacesetter Up Front Elizabeth and driver Mark MacDonald until the top of the stretch and then rallied to a one length victory in that $29,850 split.
After the race, Morrill was asked how Just Add Vodka handled in the race and he quickly replied, “She’s a Blue Chip horse, that’s all you need to know.”
The daughter of Art Major is owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock, Steve Demeter, Dr. Herbie Burns and Naheul Agosti, and trained by Julie Miller. Just Add Vodka returned a $3.10 win mutuel.
In a third $30,450 NYSS division, Morrill used the front-end route with Carlota Blue Chip to score an easy three length triumph over Anegada and driver Jeff Gregory. Odds-on favourite Scandalicious was never in the hunt and finished third, four lengths behind the winner.
Carlota Blue Chip, an American Ideal filly, is owned by the Purple Haze Stable and trained by Trond Smedshammer. She paid $9.60 for win.
A final NYSS was won by It Was Fascination, driven by Scott Zeron. In that contest, Zeron kept the daughter of American Ideal near the pace in third position and at the top of the lane they were two lengths behind the Jimmy Morrill Jr.-driven Blush Hanover. However, It Was Fascination rallied and overtook the leader to score a head victory in a time of 1:55.2.
Owned by Riverview Racing, Alagna Racing, and Bay State Stable, and trained by Tony Alagna, It Was Fascination was dismissed in the wagering and returned $23.60 for win.
Driver Scott Zeron made his Mighty M debut today and he also scored a victory in the Excelsior Series when he guided Elizabeth Blue Chip to a 1:58.2 triumph.
“Hey I love it here. I’m undefeated at Monticello,” he laughed.
Other Excelsior Series winners were Just Fine and Jeff Gregory in 1:58 and the Matt Kakaley-driven Whimsies in 1:57.2 and Ubettorbeturlife in 1:57.1.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)