Despite the oppressive humidity at post time, victory in the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies was no sweat for Goosebump Hanover and Non Stick at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (August 13).
Goosebump Hanover (RC Royalty-Good Common Cents) took a wait-and-see approach in the first $59,100 division as Jim Morrill Jr. took back to last while Lindylicious (Kevin Cummings), Swinging Royalty (Chris Lems) and Earn Your Wings (Charlie Norris) accounted for three lead changes before the half, which was reached in :58.2. At that station, Earn your Wings was on top by two when Morrill pulled Goosebump Hanover to follow the live cover of Lindylicious, who had made a move at five-eighths. Morrill followed the outer flow until it stalled and then swung three-wide at the top of the far turn and started pouring on the speed. When they hit the straightaway, Goosebump Hanover was in full-stride and scored a one-length victory in 1:58.
After the race, driver Morrill spoke glowingly of his filly: “The race set up perfectly for her with the fast half. But when I tipped her and asked her for more, she trotted strong to the wire.”
Goosebump Hanover ($10.40) is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, J&T Silva Stables LLC, Crawford Farms LLC and Joseph DiScala Jr.
In the second $60,200 leg, Non Stick (Lucky Chucky-Meucci Madness) took no prisoners as trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt left immediately and worked his way to the lead by the quarter in :29 flat. Open Access (Charlie Norris), who left behind Non Stick, was pressuring her on the outside at that point, but made a break in the turn and that allowed the leader a :30.4 breather in the second panel. Approaching the five-eighths pole, post time favourite Fad Finance (Jim Morrill Jr.) pulled from third and drafted outside of Non Stick up the backside. But as soon as the pair hit the final turn, Morrill gave the filly her head and Fad Finance surged a length ahead of Non Stick. However, the tables turned quickly when they straightened out in the lane as Non Stick came back on and pulled away to an easy two-length win in 1:58.2.
Non Stick ($5.60) is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Little E LLC.
There were also three $15,000 divisions of the Excelsior A Series on the card and two of them showed up the headliners by just missing the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies by a fifth of a second (Cowgirl Hall, Bouncing Bax - 1:57.2).
The first division was won by Wendys Girl (Lucky Chucky-East Creek Wendy), who was driven by Morrill in 1:57.3. Wendys Girl ($2.80) is trained by Tracy Brainard for owners Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold.
The second leg was won by Dazzling Dollars (Cash Hall-Designed To Dazzle), who was also driven by Morrill and was also timed in 1:57.3. Dazzling Dollars ($3.30) is trained by Trond Smedshammer for owner Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stable.
The third split was captured by Hullaba Lulu (RC Royalty-Lulu Pernilla), who was teamed by his trainer, John Stark Jr., in 1:58.2. Hullaba Lulu ($16.20) is owned by the estate of Edmund Smith, Daniel Giannuzzi, James Giannuzzi and Carol Wink.
(With files from Batavia Downs)