See You At Peelers reached the wire first but had to settle for runner-up honours after being disqualified in the first of three $49,235 New York Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies at Tioga Downs on Sunday
night, prompting trainer Jimmy Takter to decide against sending the filly to the Little Brown Jug or the Jugette.
The Bettors Delight-West Side Glory filly, who won her first 22 races, nearly rebounded from her first career loss to Idyllic in the Nadia Lobell at the The Meadows on August 29, but caused interference down the stretch and was disqualified and placed back to second leaving New Album to inherit the victory.
Driven by Jason Bartlett, New Album established herself as the early race leader during the :27 opening quarter while Jim Morrill Jr. sent Post 6 starter See You At Peelers three-wide around the parked out Busybeingfabulous (Mark MacDonald) and up to take over before the half in :55.3.
See You At Peelers headed to three-quarters in 1:23.4 with Alexachase (Greg Merton) advancing first over from third and applying steady pressure into the stretch.
As See You At Peelers turned for home, New Album squeezed up the pylons while Alexachase continued to lay on the pressure on the outside, but heavy 1-9 favourite See You At Peelers held on to score the narrow win in 1:52.3 over the sloppy track with New Album second and Alexachase third.
Following a judges' inquiry, however, See You At Peelers was taken down as the winner for leaning in on New Album down the lane.
New Album, a daughter of Western Terror-Always Remember, is owned by trainer Mark Kesmodel and Jeffrey Bamond of New Jersey and the Baron Racing Stable of Pennsylvania. The win was her fourth in a row and eighth of the season in 15 starts.
"She's a fantastic horse. It was a tough race and she had to go three-wide there," said Takter in the winner's circle before the inquiry. "I still don't want to make any excuses, but I don't think she's really 100 per cent. Something is bothering her, which I have no idea what it is really because she should have fought them off a little easier today."
According to reports from Tioga Downs, Takter said See You At Peelers will not be facing the boys in the upcoming Little Brown Jug or racing in the Jugette stating that, "Something just isn't right with her."
Despite See You At Peelers' placing, Takter was greeted with some good news as the U.S. Harness Writers Association recently voted him into harness racing’s Living Hall of Fame.
"Thank you very much," he said of the official announcement. "That's too bad, I didn't see what happened there with 'Peelers', but unfortunately I didn't have the horse at her best target today. I don't know, something is bothering her. I want to thank the people at Tioga today because she has been racing here and having a lot of fun. I hope to keep supporting her. I love this horse and I'm very honoured to come into the Hall of Fame. That's something that any guy in this sport would dream about. It's so few guys that do, and we've been having a great run. I want to thank my wife Christina, who's been with me all the time. Without her I wouldn't be there."
Other division winners for three-year-old filly pacers included: Ms Malicious and Bartlett in 1:52.1, and Miss Annie J and Morrill Jr. in 1:53.2.
Fantaddy and Morrill Jr. posted the fastest time in the three divisions for three-year old colt and gelding pacers in 1:52.
Morrill sat off the pace as Mojo Terror (Mark Macdonald) and Feel Like A Fool (Jason Bartlett) tortured each other through fractions of :26.4 and :55.1 before Morrill unleashed Fantaddy to grab control of the field by three-quarters in 1:22.4. Down the stretch, Morrill was in total control and had Fantaddy shut down on their way to an open length win in 1:52.
Tony O'Sullivan trains the Bettors Delight-Lifetime Member gelding, who has won eight times in 16 seasonal starts, for John Fielding of Toronto.
Other splits for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers included: Sir Ziggys Z Tam and Pat Lachance in 1:51.3, and Overnight Delightand and Bartlett in 1:52.4.
Bartlett posted five wins on the night’s 13-race card
(With files from Tioga Downs)
I have an idea what might be
I have an idea what might be wrong with her, Racing back in 6 days in the mud and 3 wide to make the lead after a gut wrenching performance last Monday . Just a thought!! I pray she comes back and wins everything. She deserves it.
I, too, hope she is fine,
I, too, hope she is fine, but one wonders why she raced at all given what the race at the Meadows must have taken out of her. Even if she had to qua for the NYSS final by starting in a minimum of legs, it seems a questionable decision. Obviously, Jimmy Takter deserves being elected to the Hall of Fame, but I think he went to the well one time too often.
I too hope "peelers" is OK.
I too hope "peelers" is OK. She has given us a lot of thrills this year and has been great for the sport. I would have liked to see her entered in the Jug as it would have added a lot of interest, which is always a good thing. That said, I have not been of the belief at any time this year that she had the ability to win the jug. She's a couple second slower than the best colts. For her to win the jug would have taken a bit of luck like Fan Hanover had 3 decades ago when Eastern Skipper and Herve Filion ran over Seahawk Hanover and Benny Webster, taking out both colts.
I hope she is okay. If not,
I hope she is okay. If not, Kudos to the Owners for putting her welfare over the Jug. :)