Two-year-old pacing fillies battled for nearly $210,000 in New York-bred action Thursday at Monticello Raceway, and when the day was over the track record for the freshman fillies fell, not once, but twice.
Actually the former mark of 1:56.4 set in 1995 by Chi Chi Girl and driver Matt Romano was bettered four times during the daytime racing program.
First, Skip and Wendy Spring’s daughter of American Ideal-Bettor Wisdom, Minor Wisdom, turned back six others in a $12,700 Excelsior Series split stopping the clock at 1:56.1 for driver Mark MacDonald. It was three-fifths of a second faster than Chi Chi Girl’s previous mark.
However that new standard didn’t last long when, in the very next race, a $71,815 New York Sire Stakes contest, Freetime and driver Andy Miller obliterated Minor Wisdom’s new standard when the daughter of Artiscape–Bubbas Joicey B scored in a stunning 1:55.2 in her $71,815 division of the New York Sire Stakes knocking yet another four-fifth’s of a second off the new mark.
However, after Freetime’s triumph, Summertime Lea, a Lislea-Donna Summer filly, won her $73,185 NYSS in 1:55.2 for Jimmy Morrill, Jr. and still later on the card, Know It All, a daughter of American Ideal-Canadian Culture driven by John Stark, Jr. tripped the timer in 1:55.4. But at day’s end Freetime’s 1:55.1 will go down in the Mighty M record books.
With the final times what they were for the New York-bred fillies it was hard to tell that the features were two New York Sire Stakes…one for $72,815 and the other for $73,115. They were accompanied by five $12,700 splits in the newly formed Excelsior Series.
Still, the fastest two races were in the Sire Stakes. Freetime, a purchase after her initial qualifying event by the Andy Miller Stable and Triple D Stable, proved to be a fruitful investment. Prior to her victory today Freetime had earned over $65,000 in NYSS action and with the $35,000+ she garnered today Freetime’s bankroll is now $101,408.
In that contest Jimmy Morrill, Jr. moved Brussels Hanover out of third position when he saw Miller and Freetime moving as the field headed for the quarter. Morrill made the front and then let Miller take command.
The two fillies then raced one-two to the third stanza where it seemed horses came at them from everywhere. The field was four-deep on the final turn but when they straightened for home Freetime had broken clear and she was chased home still a length better than Brussels Hanover who had shadowed her from the quarter pole.
“She’s been a pleasant surprise for us,” Miller offered in the winners circle.” She’s got a big motor for a little filly and she showed a lot of guts today holding off all those charges.”
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, Freetime paid $3.40 for win.
There was little doubt among the railbirds that Summertime Lea would win her $73,185 NYSS split.
Parked nearly to the quarter as Winbak Heavenly and Corry Braden showed the way, Morrill didn’t stay along the pylons very long. As the field approached the halfway point Morrill had Summertime Lea out and going and they moved to the front just after the midway point. From there it was Katie bar the door, as the Summertime Lea got by the third stanza in 1:25.4 and then coasted home an easy three-length winner over Hit The Curb and driver Jason Bartlett.
Trainer Ron Burke was on hand for the blanket presentation. “We purchased the filly for $28,000 after her first qualifying race and we bought her just to ship with our other sire stakes fillies. But now she’s the reason we ship.”
Owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Earl Smith, Summertime Lea continues as the point leader in her NYSS division now has five wins and a second in six starts and a bankroll of $127,478. She paid $2.80 for win.
Besides Minor Wisdom’s 1:56.1 victory and Know It All’s 1:55.4 triumph, other Excelsior Series winners this afternoon included: Mollie Mile (1:57.4-Jimmy Morrill, Jr.); Exclamation (1:57.1-Jason Bartlett) and Luvalicious (1:59.4- Mark MacDonald)
(Monticello Raceway)