Monticello Raceway hosted two New York Sire Stakes divisions, worth a total of $157,397, for three-year-old trotting fillies on Sunday, July 14.
The $79,452 first division of NYSS action contained a short field of five. Chapvious and Jason Barlett floated off the gate to make the front past the opening quarter, and they set the tempo with splits of :29.1, :59 and 1:29. Entering the paddock turn, Chapvious made a break, making it a free-for-all in the sprint for home. The 22-1 Sundays Brunch (Jordan Stratton) had a full head of steam coming off the turn, and she powered her way past rivals on the outside to score a 2-1/2-length win in 1:57.4 with a :28.1 last quarter. Inn Of The Stars (Tyler Buter) was second, followed by Royal Mission (Brett Beckwith).
With the win, Sundays Brunch (Devious Man-Pearls Last Chance) took a new lifetime mark for trainer Phil Fluet and owner Woodward Stable LLC. The filly, who returned $46 to win, is three-for-eight lifetime.
Sonmar Pond (Chapter Seven-Plunge Blue Chip) wired the four-horse field in the $77,945 second division. Brett Beckwith rated her to splits of :30, 1:00.3, and 1:30.1 on the lead with 1-9 favourite My Debt Collector (Tyler Buter) popping the pocket to challenge approaching three-quarters. That rival broke stride on the turn though, leaving Sonmar Pond to cruise to victory in 1:58.3. Calculus Risk (Stratton) finished second, two lengths back, with My Debt Collector coming home third.
Domenico Cecere trains Sonmar Pond for Lindy Farms of Connecticut. The filly has won five of her 15 lifetime appearances. She returned $15.20 to win.
Flashchap (Chapter Seven-Wing Flash) remained undefeated in this season's Excelsior Series as she took the first $27,397 division in 1:58. She made a few anxious steps leaving the gate, but Tyler Buter kept her together and steered her to a 2-1/4-length win, her fourth Excelsior Series victory of the year. Flashchap ($3.80) is trained by George Ducharme for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC and is five-for-eight this year. Quite Like Me (Bartlett) finished second, followed by Made Of Dreams (Greg Merton).
In the final Excelsior division, K J Title (E L Titan-Arent I Hanover) scored a two-length win in 1:57.1 for the local connections of trainer Gary Messenger and driver Greg Merton. Favourite Michelons Titan (Bartlett) was second over Always A Story (Beckwith). The win was K J Title's second in eight outings this year. Scott Woogen owns and bred the filly.
Beckwith led all drivers with a grand slam on the 11-race card. Kyle Dibenedetto, who is closing in on win number 7,000, had a driving double, as did Stratton. Trainer Monica Eriksen also got on the board with a double.
(With files from Monticello Raceway; photo of Sundays Brunch winning on July 14)