It was a 'Daley Double' in the New York Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies at Batavia Downs on Friday night.
Trainer/driver Dan Daley registered two victories on the evening, guiding Flyhawk Falina and Exotic Form to the winner's circle to highlight the Sire Stakes action. In the third and final division, Beauty Of Gray ($3.20) with Jim Meittinis in the bike recorded the popular victory in front of the Batavia Downs fans.
In the first division worth $34,577, it was a matter of survival. Flyhawk Falina ($5.90) shot to the lead off the gate, managing to escape the chaos of four breaking horses. She won going basically unchallenged from gate-to-wire in 2:01.3. Fashionable Apple (Jim Morrill Jr.), the only other starter not to break, finished three and a quarter lengths behind in second while the heavily favoured Maud Blue Chip (Cat Manzi) regrouped after the miscue and finished third.
Flyhawk Falina now has two victories, all in Sire Stakes competition, in five career starts for owners Joseph Pennacchio, Annmari Daley and Michael White. The winner's share of the purse moved her earnings to $53,530 on the season. Flyhawk Falina is a Cash Hall filly out of Nowerland Nanette.
Daley made in two straight Sire Stakes wins in the $35,277 second division as he steered Exotic Form ($13) to a head victory over the pacesetting Crediama (Jim Marohn Jr.). The 2:00.3 clocking was the fastest time of the night in the Sire Stakes.
Crediama set the fractions of :30.3, 1:00.3, and 1:30.1 over the fast track, but couldn't hang on as Exotic Form went to the passing lane and got up just before the wire. Ruby Ruby Who (Jeff Gregory) took the show position.
Exotic Form, a Malabar Man filly out of Form Fitting, scored her first victory of her career and increased her bankroll to $28,601 for Winbak Farms.
In the final division, worth $35,277, Beauty Of Gray took the lead from Gammys Girl just before the quarter pole and breezed home from there. Gammys Girl (Manzi) was two lengths back and took second while Seeyouincourt (Eric Mollor) rallied for show.
The win was the first in two career starts for Beauty Of Gray, who is trained and owned by Tommy Andersson. The Conway Hall filly from Armbro Sparkle has made $26,554 in two career appearances.
In the $12,800 Excelsior Series, it was bombs away in the first division as Thoughtfilly ($46.40) notched the win for Jim Morrill Jr. in 2:02.1. Sweet Jesse T ($3.20) went a mile in 2:03 for trainer/driver Gates Brunet to take the second division while Emiliana ($4.50) took the final division in 2:03 with Chris Long in the sulky.
In overnight action, Cowgirl Hall, currently the Downs track record holder for three-year-old trotting fillies, lowered the aged mark for mares when she went wire-to-wire in 1:57 for trainer/driver Brunet.
Racing returns on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. with a 13-race card. The feature is the $8,500 Open Pace with a field of seven set to go to the post. Naked News, last week's winner, will leave from the three-hole and is the 3-1 morning line favourite with Jim McNeight in the sulky. Fireyourguns, with Mike Caprio, is the next choice at 5-2 out of the seven spot.
(With files from Batavia Downs)