The riddle: driver James Morrill Jr. has done it without doing it; owner Frank Dettore and Gordon Corey, the man who schooled them as yearlings, refuse to; and handicappers won't have to.
The answer: choose between Stolly Up Bluechip and Eagle Way, two magnificent New York-bred two-year-old fillies racing as an entry in the third race on a solid card at Yonkers Raceway's Night of Champions this Saturday.
The event culminates the $15 million New York Sire Stakes program and showcases the best two and three-year olds of both sexes and gaits in eight $175,000 races on a 13-dash card offering more than $1.5 million in purses.
Until now, Dettore has generally been able to race his swift pair at about the same time, in the same place, and root for both in separate series qualifiers. This week, however, they go against each other in the final leg of their division.
"I don't think I could choose. I'm hoping for the best for both," says Corey. "I'm like a proud daddy. Maybe I should say uncle. Mr. Dettore would be the daddy."
In a human sense, yes. Biologically speaking, Stolly Up Bluechip is the first foal out of Stasias Girl, who had a record of 1:52.4 on a mile track and earned $142,774.
Sired by Art Major, Stolly Up Bluechip was purchased for $60,000 at the 2007 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from breeder Blue Chip Farm. She has won an impressive six of eight lifetime starts with earnings of $103,003.
Dettore is a long-time Ohio land developer with a 100-acre horse farm there. But he bred Eagle Way, a Dream Away filly out of the never-raced mare Western Dancer, in New York where she has won five of seven starts and earned $116,152.
"I'll be rooting for a dead heat," says Dettore.
Regardless of the outcome, it will be a memorable night of racing in New York, something Dettore, who bought his first horse in 1969, loves to do. Besides having a great year with his young fillies, Dettore's Upscale Hanover won the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace this past Sunday at Tioga Downs.
"There's the [state breeders] program and the purses are good, too. New York has completely turned things around," he says.
Mark Ford, who bought Stolly Up Bluechip for Dettore at the Harrisburg sales and trains both fillies, emphatically agrees.
"The card on Friday night [before the Night of Champions] could be the best card ever written for overnights in New York State," says Ford, who plans on concentrating more on racing at Yonkers than the Meadowlands. "There are so many positive things going on now. I don't see a negative vibe in New York."
Besides dodging each other leading up to their Night of Champions final, Eagle Way and Stolly Up Bluechip have, for the most part, avoided B Intensified. The points leader in the qualifying legs, B Intensified drew the five hole, has earnings of $129,900, and a six race winning streak going into Saturday. Her only loss was a fist-time-out place finish to Eagle Way in a race that went slow for this group (2:00.2) on a Goshen surface rated good.
On August 19 at Yonkers, Stolly Up Bluechip, who races best close or on the lead, was fourth to B Intensified after getting away poorly, beaten by three and a half lengths in 1:56.4. Eagle Way won her heat by four lengths that night in 1:57, coming home in a nifty :28.3.
All of which brings us to Morrill, who opted to drive Stolly Up Bluechip, with Tony Morgan steering Eagle Way and Bran Sears piloting B Intensified.
He and everyone else will learn Saturday night – in well under two minutes, conditions permitting – if driver knows best.
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(HHBNYS)