New York Sire Stakes’ three-year-old trotting fillies will be in action this Thursday evening (August 8), as a field of eight will battle for the winner’s share of a $118,800 purse.
The race will feature last season’s two-year-old trotting filly of the year in the U.S., Woodside Charm, who will be driven by her owner/trainer, Verlin Yoder. The daughter of Chapter Seven has been listed as the 5-2 morning line favourite. She was a perfect seven for seven as a juvenile, which included a win in her $600,000 division of the Breeders Crown in 2018. Woodside Charm has only raced once as a sophomore thus far. Her only 2019 start resulted in her only career loss, which came at the hands of Grand Swan in the $40,000 Star Destroyer Stakes at Hoosier Park on June 26.
Woodside Charm’s stiffest competition appears to be the Richard Banca-trained Quincy Blue Chip (to be driven by Jim Morrill Jr.). The filly by Chapter Seven has recorded six wins as a sophomore, including a victory in the $209,500 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs in May. Quincy Blue Chip, who is owned by Banca along with Barbara and James Boese, heads into Thursday with 10 career trips to the winner’s circle. She has been listed as the second early choice at 7-2.
The Thursday tilt will also feature last season’s two-year-old NYSS Final winner Winndevie (Jason Bartlett). Trond Smedshammer trains the Credit Winner filly for Purple Haze Stables. She was six for seven as a juvenile (her only loss came to Woodside Charm during a leg of the NYSS at Saratoga Casino Raceway). She has recorded two wins from her seven starts this season. She has been pegged as an 8-1 shot on the morning line.
Other top contenders in the field include the George Ducharme-trained Sensibility (Tyler Buter), who has been listed at odds of 9-2. Sweet Chapter (Matt Kakaley), who is trained by Blake MacIntosh, has been listed at 6-1.
Vernon’s 11-race card will start at 6:10 p.m.
Please note that Vernon will not conduct live racing on Friday (August 9) because of the Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood concert.
For more information, head to vernondowns.com.
(With files from Vernon Downs)