A pair of Canadian-campaigned freshman pacing fillies from the Blake MacIntosh stable were victorious in their respective divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) contested at Vernon Downs on Friday night (July 7).
The MacIntosh-trained Twin B Peaches ($23.60) and driver Mark MacDonald came on late to get an upset win during the first $27,750 division of the NYSS for freshman pacing fillies. All On Top Hanover (Marcus Miller) went to the front first, however, Hurrikane Shorty (Jimmy Marohn Jr.) took over before the half. As the field went to the top of the stretch, the two favourites duked it out for the lead. Meanwhile, Twin B Peaches watched from third then fired out at mid-stretch and went by to take the victory at the wire in 1:52 by a quarter-length. Hurrikane Shorty was second-best while All On Top Hanover got third.
The Betterthancheddar-Beach Bound, who is now two-for-two to start her career, is owned by Onaroll Stable of Embro, Ont., Touch Stone Farms of Guelph, Ont., Ozzie Mackay of Moncton, N.B., and Reginald Petitpas of Shediac Bridge, N.B.
The second $28,250 division went to another longshot, Walk From Heaven ($37.80), driven by Brett Miller, trained by Kevin Lare and owned by Frank Chick.
The Rock N Roll Heaven-Walk Of Shame filly followed the lead of Dance Blue (Mark MacDonald), who put up the fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:24.4 but went off stride just before the top of the stretch. This left an opening for Walk From Heaven and she then held off the late charge of Classy Chris (Jim Morrill Jr.) to win her career debut in 1:53.2. Classy Chris finished second and Lets Fall In Love (Matt Kakaley) was third.
The third $27,750 division went to another MacIntosh-trained filly, Ubettergo Go ($9.80). The career-debuting Art Major-Ubetterthink Think filly is co-owned by her trainer along with Petitpas, MacKay and Toronto's Tony Basile.
Also driven by MacDonald, Ubettergo Go went gate-to-wire in 1:53, putting all the rest away with a :26.3 last quarter. Line Dancer (Brett Miller) finished second and Step Beyond (Matt Kakaley) was third.
The final $28,250 division went to the big favourite Betterthangraduate ($2.70), who was driven by Jim Morrill Jr. and trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Silva Purnel And Libby, Phillip Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi.
The Betterthancheddar-Western Graduate filly followed leader Silk Reed (Tyler Buter) all the way to the stretch and then went by. Betterthangraduate held off a late charge by Speedo Miss (Marcus Miller) to score her maiden-breaking victory in 1:55 by half a length. Mark MacDonald steered Lulu De Vie to a third-place finish.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 8) with a 13-race card starting at 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)