Fad Finance shattered the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Friday night (August 19).
Jim Morrill Jr. piloted the Trond Smedshammer-trained filly, who was the 3-5 betting favourite in her division of the $89,950 New York Sire Stakes.
Morrill moved Fad Finance out to the lead and despite being pressured almost every step of the way, the sophomore high-stepper had enough left to secure her fifth victory of the year. Fad Finance stopped the timer in 1:54.1, crushing the previous track mark for sophomore fillies of 1:55.3 set by Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory) in NYSS action last year. Fad Finance had just enough to hold off the late charge by Goosebump Hanover (Stephane Bouchard), who had to settle for second despite trotting in 1:54.2. Swinging Royalty (Jason Bartlett) earned the show spot.
Fad Finance, a daughter of Credit Winner, is owned by Purple Haze Stables, Marc Goldberg, and Rojan Stables.
Ake Svanstedt and Little E's Non Stick (by Lucky Chucky) prevailed in the other $89,950 Sire Stake on the night as the filly overcame being parked out throughout the entire first half of the race before scoring in 1:56. For Non Stick, the win was the fifth in eight seasonal tries and the 11th in 14 lifetime starts. Just as Fad Finance was in the earlier NYSS race, Non Stick was her race’s 3-5 betting favourite.
New York Sire Stakes action returns to Saratoga on Wednesday night when two-year-old trotting fillies are featured. Live racing continues on Saturday night at the Spa with a 7:05 p.m. first post.
(With files from Saratoga)