Rain certainly put a damper on the afternoon card at Monticello Raceway on Monday, August 23, one which featured over $180,000 up for grabs for sophomore pacing fillies in the rich New York Sire Stakes program.
Still, the series stalwart, Galimony, did her usual thing when she won her $60,000 split in a time of 1:59:2, which turned out to be the fastest of the three divisions. Her triumph gave Jim Morrill, Jr. two NYSS driving victories on the card.
Besides his triumph with Galimony, Morrill also won a division with Maxs Leading Lady in 2:01:2. A final split went to the Jason Bartlett-driven Anndrovette in a 2:00:2 clocking.
But most eyes were on Galimony, a daughter Artiscape that already had bankrolled over $273,000 prior to the race and she did not disappoint.
Morrill gunned her to the lead and she toured the double oval unchallenged and finished two lengths ahead of Laugh Away, driven by Jason Bartlett. Hartangel garnered the show dough for Stephane Bouchard.
The filly’s trainer, Linda Toscano, joined Morrill in the winner’s circle for the blanket presentation and was pleased with Galimony’s performance. “She’s been real good all season long and she didn’t seem to have any trouble defeating this field,” Toscano said.
Morrill won the second division with Art Major lass Maxs Leading Lady ($4.40) in a thrilling stretch drive which commanded a three-horse photo to determine the winner.
The final NYSS dash saw odds the Mark Kesmodel-trained Riverboat King filly Anndrovette ($3.10) make a break and still win in a time of 2:00:2 for driver Bartlett.
(With files from Monticello)