Pennsylvania champion Foxy Lady kept right on rolling Tuesday at The Meadows, capturing a division of an $80,200 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old pacing fillies while equaling the stake record of 1:52
. N Y Yankees was a 9-1 upset winner in the other split, giving Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke a stake sweep.
Foxy Lady took the PA Sires Stakes final Sept. 5 at Harrah’s Chester as the 3-5 favourite for Gingras and attracted even more play Monday, hammered down to 1-5. Although she had a breaking horse inside and outside her as she moved to the early lead, the daughter of Real Desire-Judy Is A Fox had little trouble matching the 2003 mark of Her Own Art. Virgin Mary, one of those early breakers, recovered to finish second, 1-1/4 lengths back, with long shot Dragon Dance a ground-saving third.
“Those breakers didn’t bother her; she was professional,” Gingras said. “But she wasn’t quite as sharp as she’s been. She was good enough, but she’s been better. She’s going to Lexington, and I’m sure she’ll be cranked and ready to go.”
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and Phillip Collura own Foxy Lady, who now boasts career earnings of $479,983.
While Foxy Lady’s performance was expected, N Y Yankees was something of a surprise. Burke grabbed her from a conditioned claiming race Sept. 12, and she had to take on stakes veterans from Post 8.
But she moved crisply twice — once for early position, once around the far turn for clearance. She triumphed in a lifetime-best 1:53.1, 2-3/4 lengths better than 6-5 favourite Mikayla Rose. Nutmegs Cider completed the ticket.
“I just wanted to get position, and she felt pretty good up the backside,” Gingras said. “She did it fairly easy. She didn’t race like a claimer today, that’s for sure.”
Burke Racing Stable and Weaver-Bruscemi own N Y Yankees, a daughter of The Panderosa-Pan Yankees.
Wednesday’s card at The Meadows features two divisions of a $77,800 Keystone Classic for sophomore colt and gelding trotters. The first split, an early, non-wagering event, will go at 6:35 p.m., with the 15-race pari-mutuel card to follow.
(The Meadows)