Spirit To Win became the nation’s fastest, freshman trotter of 2014 thanks to her stakes record-setting performance in Monday’s $45,800 final of the Pure Ivory Series for two-year-old trotting fillies at Mohawk Racetrack.
A runner-up in the opening leg of the series and an impressive winner in last week’s second leg assignment, Spirit To Win rallied for a 1:55.3 victory for the team of driver Chris Christoforou and trainer Dustin Jones when the big money was on the line. The performance erased the former stakes mark of 1:57.1 set by Lady Laker in 2012 when the series was known as the In Free Series.
Christoforou got away third with Spirit To Win while Southwind Champane was hustled to the front. That filly chopped out fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.2 before giving way to Spirit To Win in the lane. Spirit To Win commenced her first-over rally going into the last turn, and she quickly found another gear. She unleashed a :27.3 closing quarter to win by 4-3/4 lengths over Southwind Champane. Third prize went to Allies Gift.
“Dustin [trainer Jones], before she started racing…I think it was maybe a month before, he came up to me and said ‘I got one I think might be the best one I’ve had and I’d like you to drive her,’" said driver Chris Christoforou. “She’s just been a pleasure. She does everything right. She’s got a few tiny quirks, but nothing major. She’s just been getting better and better.”
Bred by Fred Hertrich III, who co-owns the youngster with Noblock Racing Stable, Spirit To Win improved her rookie record to 3-1-0 from four starts. The precocious trotter boosted her lifetime earnings to $37,900 with the win.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.