Cowboy Candy remained unbeaten in New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) competition, taking her fifth straight straight victory in the series with a romp in the second $72,917 division for two-year-old pacing fillies on Monday, Aug. 10 at Monticello Raceway.
Cowboy Candy, the divisional leader, scored from the outside in a field shortened to four starters. She causally made her way to the top and set the tone with fractions of :27.2 and :56.3 followed by Phast Phyllis (Leon Bailey). Positions remained unchanged until the five-eighths maker when Clear Choice (Braxten Boyd) took aim on the leader to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Turning for home, Jordan Stratton was confident behind Cowboy Candy, and the filly went on for the 3-3/4-length win in 1:54.3 Phast Phyllis was second followed by Huntsvilles Honey (Matt Kakaley).
With the win, Cowboy Candy is five-for-five in the NYSS after a place finish in her career debut. The daughter of So Surreal-Caviart Elena has earned $213,696 for trainer Aaron Lambert and owner Chain Lightning Stables LLC of Beach Haven, N.J. The win price was $2.46.
Annie O and Leon Bailey went wire-to-wire to a seven-length score in the five-horse second division. The filly had control through :29.3, :59 and 1:27 fractions and streaked away to her second straight NYSS win in 1:55.2. Maxina (Greg Merton) finished second despite putting in steps throughout the mile. Win Me Over (Braxten Boyd) completed the ticket.
Annie O has won twice in four career starts and earned $89,833. Andrew Stafford trains the daughter of Huntsville-Rapunzel Blue Chip and co-owns her with Bonnie Benson of Lewes. The winner returned $6.72.
The nine-race card also had three $27,778 divisions of the Excelsior Series. Odds-on favourite Prop Bet ($2.10) took her third straight series victory in the first division as the American Courage-Bet Online filly went all the way in a 3-1/2-length score in 1:56.2 with Matt Kakaley handling the driving for trainer Travis Alexander for owner Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC.
Where Is The Love ($11.40) broke her maiden with a 13-length romp in 1:55.4 in the second split. Lauren Tritton drove the daughter of Huntsville-Itzpapalotl for trainer Linda Toscano and owners Steven Held and Bill Elliott.
In the final Excelsior contest, divisional leader Spider Claire ($4.40) was content to sit a gapped fourth until the half. The So Surreal-Notagain filly exploded out of the hole down the backside and grinded down the pacesetter, then strode away to a 3-3/4-length win in 1:56.4. Matt Kakaley was in the bike for trainer Paul Roy, who co-owns Spider Claire with Ersilia Roy.
Next up for the NYSS circuit at Monticello Raceway are three-year-old trotting fillies on Monday, Aug. 17 with a first post of 12:10 p.m.
(With files from Monticello Raceway; photo of Cowboy Candy winning on July 8)