Sitting a pocket trip, Golden Tricks lunged towards tempo-setter and race-favourite Quincy Blue Chip to land a nose in front at the finish and win the $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Golden Tricks crossed to the cones to lead around the first turn while Starita, the even-money second choice, travelled wide around the turn when challenging for the front. Starita cleared command past a :28.2 opening quarter but soon went off stride as Quincy Blue Chip ranged uncovered towards the top, taking control and leading the field past the half in :58.
Quincy Blue Chip continued under minimal pressure up the backstretch while Golden Tricks sat the pocket heading to three-quarters in 1:27.3. Golden Tricks slid from the pocket at the head of the stretch and bore into Quincy Blue Chip, forcing the pacesetter to relinquish the lead in the final strides of a 1:56 mile. Starita recovered from the miscue to take third.
“The trip couldn’t have worked out any better,” winning driver Andy Miller said after the race. “I was just trying to keep her quiet and on her feet and not make a break. Sarah [Svanstedt] said she warmed up good and I had more confidence when she told me she warmed up good. I felt really good around the last turn and I thought I had a good shot at [Quincy Blue Chip].”
Owned by Brixton Medical Inc, Golden Tricks won her fourth race from 10 starts this season and her sixth in 23 overall, earning $177,940. Ake Svanstedt conditions the Trixton filly who returned $17.20 to win.
Be sure to check out the rest of the recaps from Saturday's stakes-packed card in SC's News Centre