Top of the Class for Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies

Well, it’s that time of the year!

All members of the United States Harness Writers Association are awarded the privilege of voting for divisional harness racing honors, including Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and, of course, the ultimate, Horse of the Year.

Voters should take this responsibility very seriously as the tallied votes could have substantial monetary value to the winners for years to come, as well as their sires and dams in future yearling sales.

Now that the vast majority of the major stakes events are complete, it has given me an opportunity to sift through a mountain of past performances—both in print, by video and by what limited memory I still possess—and, while some divisions are “cut and dry,” as they say, some will result in “photo finishes.”

So, here’s a snapshot of my observations with NO checkmarks yet as to whom will get my vote. As I’ve said many times in the announcer’s booth…”it’s too close to call!”

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLIES

This division was loaded with talent with 13 fillies earning over $250,000 and 12 with a mark UNDER 1:54 with seven of these fillies making both the earnings and speed list.

Allegiant (Tactical Landing) got off to a rounding start in Kentucky and, eventually, travelled to New Jersey for their Sire Stakes but, saddled with the nine post in the final, had to trot, probably, 25 or 30 yards further than a mile but still rallied to finish fifth.

Traveling to Kentucky, she became the fastest filly in this group this season with a 1:52.2 gate-to-wire win at The Red Mile in a leg of the KYSS. In the $400,000 final, she tried cutting the mustard (at 34 cents to a dollar) and finished fourth.

She did have the courage to face the boys in late September in the in the $740,000 Mohawk Million and finished a very credible third to T C I…and that was that for her season after 10 starts and $295,302.

The second fastest in the class was French Champagne (Muscle Hill), who was on fire in Kentucky, winning her first five starts—the fastest in 1:53. In her last win at The Red Mile in mid-September, she made a sharp quarter move to the top and kicked home in :27.1 to win the $100,000 Commonwealth Final in 1:54.1. She then finished third Miss I LA in the Bluegrass.

Traveling north a bit to Dover (third) and The Meadowlands (third, third and fourth) she certainly didn’t disgrace herself but was unable to reach the winner’s circle in the $428,000 Goldsmith Maid rallying to finish fourth with a final panel in :27.4…her earnings $179,008.

R Melina (Chapter Seven) has missed but one check the season and has competed at nine different tracks with seven wins to her credit and $374,405 in the bank. Beginning her career in NW2 company, she, eventually, had her biggest payday at Hoosier Park in the Kentuckiana, stopping the timer in 1:53.1—:27—tied for third fastest in her juvenile division. In her most recent starts at The Meadowlands, she won her Goldsmith Maid tune-up in 1:53.4 and, in the $428,000 final, she was forced to fight hard throughout the journey and eventually finished third to PIzzelle.

Soiree Hanover (Walner) is the top money winner her group ($607,955) having won the $275,000 New Jersey Classic at The Meadowlands and the $400,000 Jim Doherty at Hoosier Park. Her second biggest payday came in the $700,00 Breeders Crown as she was a fast closing second to Warrawee Michelle. By the way, that win in the NJ Classic was truly outstanding as the filly was “out near Exit 16 of the Turnpike” and used a :26.4 explosion home to win! She did win the Goldsmith Maid tuneup but made a miscue in the lane in the final and lost all chance.

Pizzelle (Walner) wasn’t really in the mix until her win in the $428,000 Goldsmith Maid at The Meadowlands  but she was very convincing in the “Maid” storming home in :27.3 to win in 1:54 on a 35 degree night. A week before, she gave a huge hint in the Goldsmith Maid tune-up, finishing a fast closing second with a final panel in :27.1. Her success, as far as speed is concerned, was at The Red Mile, when she won the $86,500 International Stallion Stake in 1:53.2. Her Goldsmith Maid win vaulted her earnings from $112,550 to $315,850. She has a 3-5-0 scorecard in her13 starts.

Warrawee Michelle (Walner) has blossomed into a very serious filly in her class, especially over her last four starts. Beginning her season in July very humbly at The Meadowlands, she finished sixth but gave hints with a :28 final panel. Two starts later, she was in the Big M winner’s circle, completing her journey in 1:53.3. After a win in the Bluegrass in 1:53.2, she got in a war with Soiree Hanover and finished second—she just a neck back with her final quarter in :26.3. With her earnings at $115,625 going into the Breeders Crown events on October 19, she won her elimination and the $700,000 final, leaving her with $472,125 a week later.

But A Round (Walner) just might be the most consistent of this class having nine starts with a 6-0-3 scorecard and $355,600 to show for it. Beginning her season with a couple of qualifiers—the fastest in 2:03—she rocked the world with a 1:55—:27 win inter first start in NJSS action. She won a pair of International Stallion Stakes events at The Red Mile—both in 1:53.3, won her Breeders Crown Elim in 1:55.2 in the slop using a :27.2 kick home and was flying at the end of her Breeders Crown mile, sprinting home in :27 to finish third by a “nk” in a three horse photo.

Ponda Title (Muscle Massive) might not have quite the record of some of the others, she sure has the earning power with a bankroll of $483,420, second on the earnings list to Soiree Hanover. This filly has a 7-3-1 scorecard in 11 starts and, while her mark is “only” 1:55 at Hoosier Park, she has never missed a check or been off the board. Competing exclusively at Hoosier Park, she started her career in late June in a NW 1 series and quickly graduated to Sire Stakes competition with her biggest win in the $250,000 Indiana Sire Stakes Super Night Final.

Willys Home Run (Archangel) has raced exclusively north of the border with Woodbine-Mohawk and Georgian Downs home to her six wins and $388,338 in bounty to go along with a mark of 1:55.1. Beginning her career in early July, she dominated the Ontario Sire Stakes program for her class and was very credible in the Peaceful Way and Champlain events. Has never been worse than third and, of course, has never missed a check!

Sugar Instead (Volstead) is sixth on the money list in her juvenile class with $373,925 with her biggest triumphs in Ohio at Scioto Downs in the $300,000 Sire Stakes Final. Put together some nice winning streaks in Ohio with wins also at Northfield Park and Delaware, Ohio, as well. She finished third in the Breeders crown Elim and was in a contending spot in the final when she made a miscue.

By the way, the leading filly in the “win” column is Baby Flash (Southwind Flash) who has racked up 13 wins in 15 starts and made $92,474 on the strength of a mark in 2:01.2—her biggest win coming up in Minnesota at Running Aces in their championship final. She went back and forth from Iowa to Minnesota and raced for purses as low as $500…which leads to the question…which would YOU rather have…the two-year-old trotting filly that has a 1:54.2 mark and earnings of $11,040 or Baby Flash with her mark of 2:01.2 with $92,474 on her card?

Next time, we’ll take a look at the trotting colts!

“May The Horse Be With You!”

by John Berry, for Harnesslink