On the hot and sunny afternoon of September 1, the undefeated Jezzy jogged to yet another easy victory in a division of the $160,000 New York Sire Stakes for freshmen trotting fillies in a track record 2:00.2 at Monticello
Raceway.
With Ray Schnittker again at the controls, the daughter of Credit Winner took an early lead and was never seriously challenged en route to a 2:00.2 clocking, which established a new track standard for freshmen trotting fillies. Jezzy’s clocking erased the old mark of 2:00.4, which was set on the September 3, 2007 by both Nivana Blue Chip (Mike Simons) and Princess Maddie (Stephane Bouchard).
Jezzy’s victory was yet another yawner and only the margin of victory was in doubt as she sped to a 13-length triumph over No More Credit and driver John Stark Jr. It was the filly’s eighth consecutive victory.
Needless to say that Schnittker was all smiles in the winner’s circle when he was joined by his co-owners, Jeff Gural and Ted Gewertz, and a handful of well-wishers. (A fourth co-owner, Jerry Silva, was not on hand).
“She’s something special," Schnittker told his entourage. “She’s the best I’ve ever had and then added softly “other than Dewey" (Deweycheatumnhowe with whom Schnittker won the Hambletonian in 2008).
Besides Jezzy’s event, three other NYSS divisions were contested that day with Eight Bells being the most impressive of the other winners.
With Cat Manzi at the controls for trainer Chuck Sylvester, Eight Bells scored a 2:01.2 victory turning back Some Girls and driver Gates Brunet by three lengths.
After gaining command up the backstretch the second time around Eight Bells braced for a serious challenge from Some Girls was came from fifth to range alongside Eight Bells on the final turn. Some Girls actually took command and had a three-quarter length lead as the two fillies headed for home. But as soon as Eight Bells straightened away in the homestretch Manzi urged her a bit and she trotted back to the lead and won by open lengths.
When asked why they were headed on the final turn and then came back to win Manzi replied, "I didn’t want her to make a break and I was just steadying her around the turn. When we hit the straightaway I chirped to her and she retook [the lead] and won it handily.”
The winner, a daughter of Conway Hall, who now has three wins in five starts, is owned by SGS Partners of Williamstown, New Jersey.
Dan Daley won the first division with Tap Tap Dance scoring an 11-length victory over Rejoycing and Zeke Parker in a time of 2:01.
Tap Tap Dance, a Conway Hall filly, scored her second victory of the season. She’s owned by Ann-Marie Daley Richard Lombardo and Murray Ferguson.
Conwayslassie and Jimmy Morrill, Jr. used the front-end route to score a six-length triumph in 2:01.1 in a final NYSS split. Imageofasweetday and driver John Stark, Jr. were second best in that one.
The Conway Hall filly is owned by D’Elegance Stable, T L P Stable and Carmine Iannacone and now has two wins in seven starts.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)