Barn Bella ($23.40) stole the show in Friday (August 5) evening's New York Sire Stakes events for two-year-old trotting fillies at Tioga Downs, working her way into a share of a track record with a sparkling 1:55.2 triumph in her $36,566 division.
Barn Bella set the bar high in the evening's sixth event, working to a comfortable lead over Reverend Nanny (John Cummings) on approach to the first turn and rating a :58.4 first half-mile. On the backstretch, the daughter of Conway Hall and Bravissima accelerated at will, amassing a seven-length lead and never looking back while Reverend Nanny failed to keep up. Favourite Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci) mounted a rally out of last on approach to the far turn -- ultimately circling into second over Scarey Karie (Phil Fluet) -- but still finished seven and a half lengths in arrears of Barn Bella.
Claude Huckabone Jr. drove Barn Bella for trainer Steven Pratt. Nancy Pratt and the Purple Haze Stables share ownership of the two-time winner with the conditioner.
Barn Bella's 1:55.2 mile equalled the previous local mark for two-year-old trotting fillies established by You Want Me (Tim Tetrick, 2012) and matched by Jolene Jolene (David Miller, 2014).
In the subsequent Sire Stakes races, Amber Ella ($7.10) and Mighty Surf ($4.40) proved victorious. Amber Ella used a first-over push up the far side to capture the $35,866 seventh event by a widening one and a half lengths in 1:58. Mike Simons drove the daughter of Chapter Seven and Blushed for trainer Linda Toscano.
In the $36,566 ninth event, Jim Morrill Jr. sent Mighty Surf immediately to the front, and the pair controlled the terms before evading a stout three-wide challenge from Heels On Wheels off the far turn for a two and a quarter length 1:57 victory, her fourth in as many career starts. Dennis Laterza trains the daughter of Prayer I Am and Big Surfer.
Live racing continues at Tioga Downs with a 10-race card on Saturday (August 6) evening. The 50-cent Pick 5 features a carryover of $356.11, and the wager consists of the first five races on the program. Post time is slated for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
(Tioga Downs)