The cream of the crop of the New York Sire Stakes' two-year-old pacing fillies will be looking to add precious points to seasonal resumes with hopes of having enough to be among the top eight who will automatically earn a berth in their $225,000 final on the Night of Champions (September 22).
Two divisions --- one for $71,815 and the other for $73,115 --- will be the featured attractions at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon (August 16). Many of the fillies currently in the top ten in points will be on the racetrack ready for battle that day.
Leading the way is Summertime Lea, a daughter of Lislea-Donna Summer whose four wins and a second in five lifetime NYSS starts has her leading the points battle with 225. Trained by Ron Burke, Summertime Lea comes into the 'Mighty M' contest off a stunning 1:52.2 triumph at Vernon Downs on August 8. However, she’ll have to start on the far outside from Post 8, which could provide a problem for driver Jim Morrill Jr.
Although Summertime Lea appears to be much superior than her competition, there are still a couple of fillies that could prove challenging. JK All That Jazz, from the powerful Linda Toscano barn, has won in 1:56 at Saratoga this year. Road Bet, the Mickey Peterson-trained filly who was clocked in 1:52:3 during her last start at Vernon. The former will be driven by Andy Miller, while the latter will have Andy McCarthy in the sulky.
The aforementioned will lock horns in the 10th race on the special 15-dash card.
Arguably, the most competitive split will be Race 8, where locally-owned filly Park N Orchard will arrive at the Mighty M with two consecutive victories and three wins in her four lifetime starts. The daughter of Art Major-Allamerican Meadow will start on the far outside from Post 7 and be driven by Stephane Bouchard.
Freetime, an Artiscape-Bubbas Joicey B filly with two wins in five starts --- the fastest in 1:56 over Yonkers Raceway --- will prove to be no pushover. Andy Miller will be at the controls.
First-race post time for the 15-race card will be at 12:50 p.m.
(With files from Monticello)