Another Batavia Track Record Broken

Published: September 11, 2010 05:14 pm EDT

Remarkable and sensational are the best two words to describe the performances of new track record holders Tuesdays With Mom and Munis Blue Chip, who both trotted to victory, in 1:57.3, in New York Sire Stakes action on Friday night at Batavia Downs

.

The former record for three-year-old trotting fillies was 1:58.4, set in 2005 by Creditability. This was the fourth track record broken this season.

The remarkable Tuesdays With Mom, with the Downs’ dashing leading driver Jack Flanigen at the controls, started the first of four New York Sire Stakes, worth $37,180 each, when she went gate-to-wire defeating Reena (Jim Morrill, Jr.) by 2-1/4 lengths to establish the new record. The fractions were :28.3, :58 and 1:28.1, with a final quarter trotted in :29.2.

Tuesdays With Mom (Credit Winner-Princess Deanna) notched her fifth win of the season for owner-trainer Peter Arrigenna, who also bred the filly. Her 2010 earnings exceed $127,000 and her lifetime earnings are more than $314,000. She’s never been worse than second during her remarkable career, sporting 11 wins and six seconds.

Joined by a huge contingent of family and friends in the winner’s circle, Arrigenna said, “She got a little sick on us, but she’s better now and is clearly peaking at the right time for the Night of Champions,” to be held at Yonkers Raceway on September 25.

Later in the evening, the sensational Munis Blue Chip, with Jim Morrill, Jr. once again pinch-hitting for trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, equaled the track record when she went on to a 4-1/2 score over Viva Las Lindy and Howard Parker. The fractions were :28.4, :57.4 and 1:27.1, with a final quarter in a wrapped-up :30.2.

Munis Blue Chip (Credit Winner-Hustle N Muscle) scored for the eighth time this season and fifth in a row for owners Ray Schnittker, Steven Arnold, Blue Chip Bloodstock, Inc. of New York and Jerry Silva. She’s over the $259,000 mark in season’s earnings, with lifetime earnings of more than $444,000.

“I settled her in but she got a little hot on me so I let her trot on [to the front],” Morrill said. “She was good tonight. There’s is no doubt I could have went faster if I needed to. She’s definitely one of the best fillies I’ve ever driven.”

Friday night's other New York Sire Stakes were won by:

  • Sheezacredit (by Credit Winner); co-owned by Edmund Smith, John Stark, Jr., Kellogg Racing Stables LLC, and David Smith; trained by John Stark, Jr. and driven by Sam Schillaci to a 2:00.2 victory; and
  • Frosty Flirt (by Plesac), owned and trained by Tracy Brainard and driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. to a 2:00.1 win

There were also four New York-Bred Late-Closers for two-year-old colts and geldings worth $13,000, each on the Friday night program. The winners were:

  • Thedevilslettuce (by Western Terror), trained by Jessica Okusko and driven by Chris Lems to a 2:01.2 victory;
  • Stormin The Beach (by American Ideal), trained by Howard Okusko and also driven by Chris Lems to a 1:57.2 score;
  • Gamblers Island (by Bettors Delight), trained and driven by Sam Schillaci to a 1:58.3 victory; and
  • Yacht King (by Riverboat King), trained by Bobbi Martin and driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. to a 1:58.2 win

New York-Bred Late-Closers will continue on Wednesday night, when three-year-old colt and gelding trotters invade Western New York. Racing will resume on Saturday night, with the first of 12 races scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

(With files from Batavia Downs)

Tags
Have something to say about this? Log in or create an account to post a comment.