On Thursday, August 15 at Monticello Raceway, sophomore trotting fillies were featured in three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes. In addition, five splits of Excelsior Series trots were also on the card.
There were also two overnight trots, and despite 10 trotting races at the half-mile track, fans still wagered $746,943 on the program.
Bouncing Bax’s 1:58.2 triumph in her $52,383 NYSS division turned out to be the fastest filly trot of the afternoon, although Proclaiming April’s 1:58.2 victory was just a tick slower. And although Barn Babe’s 2:00.2 was the slowest of the three splits, it was, nevertheless, equally as impressive (she was also the only betting favourite to win an NYSS trot on Thursday).
The triumph by Bouncing Bax over the odds-on favourite, Long Island Tea, was not only the fastest trip of the day, but the daughter of Credit Winner-Bax Machine sparked the biggest pay-off on the afternoon card -- she returned a $40.80 win mutuel.
In her split, Bouncing Bax got away slowly and after racing along in fourth position some nine lengths off the lead at the three-eighths pole. At that point, driver Howard Parker moved his filly first-up and she continually moved forward. Bouncing Bax was just a head short of the pacesetter (Wygant Girl, driven by Cat Manzi) at the top of the lane.
When the pair of fillies straightened for home, Bouncing Bax trotted around Wygant Lady and then held off a strong late rally by Long Island Tea, a $135,000 yearling purchase driven by Brian Mattison. Wygant Lady faded and finished third.
The victory was Bouncing Bax’s first victory this year. Owned by the Harbor Racing Stable of Houston, Texas, Bouncing Bax raised her seasonal bankroll to nearly $73,000 with the victory.
In her $53,383 NYSS division, Proclaiming April, a daughter of Conway Hall-Lawn Tennis, raced unchallenged on the front-end and was an easy winner over the odds-on favourite, Lola De Vie.
Trainer Trond Smedshammer was in the bike and hustled Proclaiming April to front and they had a two length lead by the first stanza (:29.1). At the half in :59.2, favoured Lola De Vie and driver Jim Morrill Jr. were in third place some four and a half lengths behind the leader.
Lola De Vie closed to within two lengths of the lead at the head of the stretch, but in no way could she reel-in Proclaiming April, who led her to the wire for an easy one and a half-length victory. Fifty Shades and driver Mark MacDonald took home the show dough.
Proclaiming April, who is owned by the White Birch Farm, returned $12.40 on a successful Win wager.
The other $53,383 NYSS split was an oh-so-easy victory for Steven and Nancy Pratt’s Barn Babe. Sent off as the 1-4 post-time favourite from Post 1, driver John Cummings Jr. naturally took the lead, and despite soft early fractions (:30.3 and 1:02), nobody wanted to challenge the daughter of Cash Hall-My Babys Momma.
As the field headed into the clubhouse turn, the pace began to quicken and Barn Babe had a two-length lead as she passed the third stanza in 1:31:4. From there, with a :28.3 final quarter, Barn Babe was home free by three lengths in 2:00.2 over Royal Malinda and driver Dan Daley. Bostonz Credit was third for Jeff Gregory.
Now with six wins and three thirds in 11 starts, Barn Babe has bankrolled almost $99,000 this year and has lifetime earnings in excess of $245,000.
Five $12,700 divisions of the Excelsior Series, also for three-year-old trotting fillies, comprised the undercard. Gates Brunet won two of the races. The veteran horseman scored with Bluish And Crush ($8.00) in 2:01.4 and with Tamasin Hall ($9.80) in 2:00.1.
Other Excelsior winners were Money Show ($4.00) in 2:02 for Jim Morrill Jr., Makes Me Crazy ($6.20) in 2:01.2 for Claude Huckabone Jr. and Maggie O ($3.20) in 2:00.4 again for Jim Morrill Jr.
(With files from Monticello)