The eighth and final division of the New York Sire Stakes will visit Batavia Downs on Wednesday (September 16) when 15 two-year-old pacing fillies congregate to vie for their share of the $109,000 in purses that will be up for grabs.
Wednesday will be the last time the particular class will compete before the $900,000 NYSS Night of Champions for two-year-olds at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, September 26, and for some, the outcome of their Wednesday performance will dictate whether or not they make the cut in the point standings. The top-six point-getters are solid to make the final, but the last two slots are definitely up for grabs.
The first $54,500 division (Race 3 on the program) has four horses on the verge of making the final, but the morning line favourite will be making her first start in a NYSS event this year.
Upside Surprise (Art Major-Latte Lady) got a late start to her career after having been scratched ‘sick’ from her first race (on July 10, at the Meadowlands). She did not return to the track until August 18 when she broke her maiden in a big way (she won by 10 lengths at Pocono Downs in 1:53.4). Her next engagement was the Shes A Great Lady Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack where she was second in her elimination (she went on to finish sixth in the $341,250 final behind L A Delight in 1:51.2 on September 5). Upside Surprise (who is 2-1 on the morning line) will start from Post 4 with Jordan Stratton at the lines for trainer Tony O’Sullivan.
The next four horses by odds are all looking to capture those last two spots in the final and they all need a win to have a shot. But that is something three of them have not done all year.
North America’s leading trainer, Ron Burke, has three horses in the race: Art Critic (Art Major-Snippet Hanover) and the coupled entry of Encore Deo (Rock N Roll Heaven-Docdor Cameo) and Rockin Date (Art Major- Rockin Beauty).
Art Critic (3-1) has not won at all this year, but has not missed a cheque in NYSS action. Her best race time was 1:54.3 at Vernon Downs – which came just two starts ago – and she put out a good performance at Yonkers last week, as well. Art Critic will have Jim Morrill Jr. aboard and will start from Post 2.
Encore Deo (7-2) recorded a NYSS victory at Buffalo Raceway on July 1 in a career-best 1:57.3. She was race-timed at Vernon in 1:53 two starts ago, and will move back inside after having drawn Post 6 at Yonkers last week. Encore Deo will get the driving services of Matt Kakaley and will start from Post 3.
Rockin Date (7-2) is also winless this year, but also never seems to get beat by much. Unfortunately for her, after having drawn Post 1 and Post 2 four times in her last five starts, she will move out to Post 7 for her Wednesday start, which will be difficult to overcome. Local driving leader Kevin Cummings will pick up Rockin Date’s lines for the contest.
In the second $54,500 split (Race 4), six of the top seven point-getters will compete in the absence of the overall point-leader, Soft Idea. With a lot of early speed behind the gate, Sassa Hanover’s track record of 1:54.2 could be in jeopardy.
Dime A Dance (Roll With Joe-Hat Dance Hanover) will come into the race red-hot. She has won her last two outings, including a lifetime-best 1:52.2 at Vernon Downs before coming right back in 1:55.4 at Yonkers. She is currently fifth in the standings, but could move up considerably with a win. The filly likes to come off the pace and with the all the ‘leavers’ entered, the race could set up just right for her.
Dime A Dance (3-1) is another student of Ron Burke and will start from Post 3 with Matt Kakaley in the bike.
No Clouds Bluechip (Roll With Joe-B Js Sunshine) currently sits second in points with 224 as well as NYSS earnings of $101,999. She strung three-straight wins in NYSS action in July and August and hasn’t finished worse than third in the series all year.
Pegged as the second choice at 7-2, No Clouds Bluechip will get the services of Kevin Cummings as chosen by trainer John Berger.
American Ivy (American Ideal-Haunted) is seven for seven in the money this year and finished second to Soft Idea in her last two outings. She was beaten a narrow neck in 1:53.4 off a perfect trip last week at Yonkers, but that was the fastest of the divisions that night. Joe Holloway trains American Ivy (9-2) and has assigned Mark MacDonald to steer from Post 5.
(Batavia Downs)