Favourites prevailed in all three New York Sire Stakes events for two-year-old trotting fillies at Vernon Downs on Friday evening, with Barn Bella’s 1:55.3 mile proving most impressive of any.
The daughter of Conway Hall-Bravissima sprinted clear at the outset of her $36,566 event, posting a :28.3 initial quarter before pulling back the pace and rebuffing a middle move from Maewegonow (Charlie Norris) through a :58.4 middle half. In similar fashion, Barn Bella ($3.50) would subsequently sprint off from an upper-stretch challenge from Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci), using a :28.1 closing sectional to put 3-1/4 lengths on runner-up Mamora Bay, while fading third-place finisher Maewegonow ultimately checked in twelve lengths in arrears.
Jeff Gregory once again drove Barn Bella for trainer Steven Pratt, who shares ownership with Nancy Pratt and Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stables LLC.
Flyhawk Charm ($4.60) controlled nearly all the terms in her $35,866 Sire Stakes event, which ended up a virtual match race when all of her rivals save Nightflix Hanover (Ray Schnittker) broke stride in the early stages. The daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Final Time set fractions of :28.1, :57.3, and 1:28.1 before she was headed by Nightflix Hanover in upper stretch. No less, despite decelerating late, Flyhawk Charm fought back and eked out a three-quarter length victory in 2:00.3.
Chris Lems was aboard for co-owner/trainer Joseph Flynn and co-owner Edward Flynn.
Amber Ella ($4.10) was the other Sire Stakes winner on the evening, capturing her $36,566 division from off the pace. The daughter of Chapter Seven-Blushed latched onto the cover of Sunshine Delight (Chris Lems) through a 1:00.1 middle half, using a second-over trip before kicking to the fore in upper stretch. Amber Ella drew off by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1 in rein to John Campbell as the pace collapsed. Heels On Wheels (Matt Kakaley) saved second from the pocket, while the first-over Sunshine Delight was an engulfed third.
Linda Toscano trains Amber Ella for the Enviro Stables Ltd and Camelot Stable Inc.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday evening with post time set for 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)