Yo Tillie reaffirmed her current standing as the top horse in her division with a sixth consecutive victory in one of four divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake for three-year-old trotters on Saturday, July 19 at The Meadowlands.
Yo Tillie remained unbeaten in four tries this season after displaying an awesome closing kick rather than the dazzling early speed she showed in each of her first three starts this year.
“Her last couple of starts she’s been awesome,” said winning driver Todd McCarthy. “I’ve been racing her pretty aggressively and that was kind of the plan for tonight, but she’s come back so smart this year and she’s learned how to settle in. It’s an advantage when you can race them like that.”
The daughter of Tactical Landing-Consolidator raced in fourth through :27.2 and :56.2 fractions and past the five-eighths in the $50,856 first dash for fillies, then moved to the outside before three-quarters in 1:25.1. She then unleashed a powerhouse final quarter of :26.3 to win by 3-1/2 lengths over R Charm (Scott Zeron) in 1:52.3. Jersey Slide (Tim Tetrick) was third.
“I knew when I tipped and asked her that she would give me a pretty good last quarter,” said McCarthy.
Not eligible for the Hambletonian Oaks, Yo Tillie is being pointed toward the Kentucky Filly Futurity and Breeders Crown, among other stakes events this year, according to trainer Andrew Harris. The filly is owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Harris. She is now 12-for-16 lifetime and is riding a six-race win streak, which dates back to last season. She returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favourite.
Onajetplane used a quick brush down the backstretch to secure the top just after the half and then had to hold off a late-charging Hey Porter (Zeron) to take the $53,596 first Tompkins-Geers division for colts and geldings. He scored by a head in a lifetime best-equalling 1:52.1. Warrior (Ake Svanstedt) was third.
“He doesn’t love being in front, he starts looking around a little,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy. “He got to wandering a little, but once Scottie [Zeron, driving Hey Porter] came to us, he got back to business.”
In the opinion of his driver, the son of Walner-Noble Lover is a Hambletonian contender. “This horse is good enough [to compete in the Hambo]. He needs a good draw and a good trip and he’ll be right there,” McCarthy said.
Onajetplane is trained by Noel Daley, who co-owns the five-time winner from 14 starts with Sjoblom Racing Inc., L A Express Stable LLC, and Zei Zei Racing Inc. As the 4-5 public choice, Onajetplane paid $3.60 to win.
Andy McCarthy and Daley doubled up in the Tompkins-Geers in the $51,541 second division for fillies, when Miss Belmar (Muscle Hill-Chapter Too) scored by 3-1/2 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:52.1, giving her two wins in her last three starts after starting her career 0-for-9. She paid $13.20 as the 5-1 third choice. She is owned by Allister Stables LLC, Dean Ehrgott, Joe Sbrocco And JAF Racing, and Zei Zei Racing Inc. Grand Reserve (Todd McCarthy) finished second, and Best Friends Girl (David Miller) and Margareta Hanover (Yannick Gingras) dead-heated for show.
In the other split for colts and geldings, the Blake MacIntosh-trained Go Ahead Makemyday led at every call in the $54,281 dash, stopping the clock in a lifetime-best 1:53 with Miller at the controls. He was three-quarters of a length clear of Lefties Righties (Dexter Dunn), who edged out Lt Loverboy (Zeron) for second. The winning son of Walner-Uvie Hanover could be peaking at just the right time with the Hambletonian eliminations just one week away, as eight days ago he was a solid second-place finisher to the talented Mr Mouton. Go Ahead Makemyday paid $10 as the 4-1 second choice. The colt, a five-time winner in 16 outings, is owned by MacIntosh, Van Camp Trotting Corp, Mortgage Boys Stable, and Ozzie Mackay.
Andy McCarthy led the driver colony with three winners on the night while Shaun Vallee and Daley topped the trainers with a pair of victories apiece.
Track announcer Ken Warkentin had a big night handicapping, treating his followers to eight winners. All-source handle totaled $2,910,648 on the 14-race program. Racing at The Meadowlands resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from The Meadowlands)