Fillies battle in $151,800 NYSS at Yonkers

Two-year-old pacing fillies duked it out in New York Sire Stakes contests on Tuesday night (August 2) at Yonkers Raceway, and Earthwindfire (American Ideal) and Hunting Season (Huntsville) would win the pair of $75,900 top-level splits.

Vivians Dream (Jordan Stratton) came into the first division with a four-for-four record and led through fractions of 27.3, 57.1 and 1:26.3, but Earthwindfire (Jack Pelling) vacated the pocket in the last turn, rallied in the lane, and was able to get by Vivians Dream in time to win by a neck in 1:54, a lifetime-best clocking.

Alabama Hannah (Jason Bartlett) was the third-place finisher.

Earthwindfire is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Tulip Racing. A $100,000 purchase at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Earthwindfire has two wins and a second in three outings and has now banked $78,075. She paid $4.40 to win as the second choice and was atop a $5.50 exacta and a $12.40 trifecta.

EARTHWINDFIRE REPLAY

Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, Earthwindfire is out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Road Bet [1:52, $380,315], making Earthwindfire a half-sister to Cattlewash [1:46.4, $1,314,787] and to Niki Hill [1:50.2, $904,556].

In the second flight Hunting Season (Mark MacDonald) went to the top from the pole position and hit the quarter in 27.4, the half in 57.4, and the three-quarters in 1:27.

Rock My Socks (Bartlett) advanced first-over out of fourth in the third quarter but stalled out in second and then was no match for Hunting Season in the stretch, as the pace-setter pulled away to prevail by a length and a half in 1:55.

Rock My Socks came home as the runner-up and pocket-sitter Dame (Luke Hanners) got third.

HUNTING SEASON REPLAY

Hunting Season was bred and is owned by trainer Ray Schnittker in partnership with Mary Kinsey-Arnold and Steven Arnold. Hunting Season picked up her third victory in her sixth start, and she has now earned $97,890. She returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite and keyed a $5.00 exacta and an $11.40 trifecta.

Jordan Stratton drove two of the four winners in $15,000 New York Excelsior “A” Series action. Stratton tallied with B On The Hunt, a daughter of Huntsville-Twin B Elite bred by Kathryn Weed & M.K. Weed, trained by his brother Cory, and owned by Our Three Sons Stable LLC. and Stratton Stable Inc. in 1:56.3, and with Doing Marvelous, a Bolt The Duer-Marvalous Joy filly bred by Winbak Farm, owned by Frank Chick, and trained by Cory Mumford in 1:56.1.

Lady Jericho, a daughter of Dude’s The Man-Taylorlane Diva bred by Gary Smith, owned by Jennifer Safford, and trained by John Berger, won the first New York Excelsior “A” section in 1:55.3 with Austin Siegelman driving, and Rec Time, a Huntsville-Ms Malicious filly bred by Fair Winds Farm, Mark Mullen, and Steve Jones, owned by D Racing Stable Inc. and Jason O’Sullivan, and trained by Deborah Daguet, completed the New York Excelsior “A” Series winners with a 1:55.1 mile for driver Jason Bartlett.

One non-wagering $6,700 New York Excelsior “B” Series race also took place, and Cannery Row, a daughter of American Ideal-My Monterey bred and owned by Crawford Farms, tallied in 1:57.1 for Bartlett and trainer Tony Alagna.

Yonkers will welcome the New York Sire Stakes circuit back to Westchester next Tuesday night (August 9) as the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings will compete in their sixth out of seven preliminary rounds.

Live racing at Yonkers is currently being held on a Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday schedule with post time at 6:55 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

From Yonkers Raceway Media