NY County Fair Finals held at Monticello Raceway

Monticello, N.Y. – Monticello Raceway was the host of the New York Sire Stakes County Fair Finals on Tuesday, September 6, with eight races going to post with $80,000 up for grabs, each division racing for a purse of $10,000. For a summer that had very little precipitation, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate as the area received rain for 48 hours straight, causing the harness racing track to be rated as sloppy. Top catch driver Jim Devaux won three of the Fair Finals.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies

Flaunt It To Winit (Credit Winner) scored in a wire-to-wire effort in 2:00.3 for catch driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. over the division leader Fire Flower (Jim Devaux). Blazin Chally (Kyle Cummings) mounted a challenge the second time around to no avail to finish third.

Fire Flower finished second, with Blazin Chally taking the show spot. Flaunt It To Winit is trained by Sam Sergi and notched her fifth win on the year.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies

The betting public keyed in on the 1/5 favorite Even Stevens (Bruce Aldrich Jr.). Starting from the rail, he set the tempo for most of the mile with fractions of 29.1, 1:00.1. At the 5/8 pole, Hunts Flower (Huntsville) and Brian Cross exploded with a strong brush to overtake the leader in the blink of an eye and had five lengths on his contemporaries in the paddock turn.

At the top of the stretch, Brian Cross needed little urging as he drew off and won by seven in 1:59.4 – $8.30 over Even Steven. Hunts Flower is trained and owned by Scott La Page and earned a new a lifetime speed badge. Even Stevens was second, followed by In Her Arsenal (Brandon Parker).

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts

Scoring from Post Position 4, BJ’S Smitty (Credit Winner) trotted through sloppy splits of 30.3, 1:01, 1:31.4 with Jimmy Devaux at the helm to score in 2:02.3 – $8.80 after withstanding a late move from Gale Force Benny (Kevin Gale) in the last turn. Divine Power (Bob Davis), the division top point earner, was second. Finishing third was Gale Force Benny (Kevin Gale).

BJ’S Smitty is owned and trained by Karen Smith Ashley for the filly’s fourth win on the season.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies

Six of the eight starters made miscues during the mile. The winner, Nice Top Line (Met’s Hall), made a break as well before the start. After she regained her gait in the first turn, she bobbed and weaved through the breakers in the first turn and was fourth at the opening panel in :32.2.

With a quick brush, she made the top at the half, parked in 1:04.1. After she cleared Clancy Brigit, she was on cruise control and had five lengths at the ¾ in 1:35.3. In the lane, she got leg weary as Clancy Brigit was bearing down on her, but she was able to withstand the challenge to win by a head in 2:09.1 – $5.00. She was driven by Todd Cummings and is trained by Tammy Cummings and set a new lifetime mark in the process.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts

The top five point earners in the division raced for bragging rights. The favorite, Davey Day Trader, hailing from Post Position 7, left swiftly to get the lead, and set fractions of 27.4, 57.3, 1:27.4 in a spread-out field.

Sitting the pocket the entire mile was Astaires Arsenal (In The Arsenal) with driver Jim Devaux, who dug in at the top of the lane and overtook Davey Day Trader by a length in a lifetime best of 1:59.3- $11.40 for his third win on the season.

Misty Carey trains the colt for owner Jeffrey Hayes of San Diego, CA.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts

Dewey Wanna Rock (PP5) minded his manners and stayed on gait to set splits of :31.3 and 1:04.3.

At the 5/8 pole, the pocket-sitting 6/5 favorite Paya Tuesday (Crazy Wow) and driver Jason Bartlett pulled the right line and took his shot at the leader, followed by Biden His Time (Mark Whitcroft) as he hit the third quarter in 1:36.4.

The trio had open lengths on the rest of the pack as a confidant Jason Bartlett steered Paya Tuesday to a two-length win in 2:08.2 – $4.50. Finishing second was Biden His Time, followed by Dewey Wanna Rock (Ron Houghtaling). Paya Tuesday was bred by Salt Hill Farm of N.Y. He is owned and trained by Ann Yurenka of Burlington Flats, N.Y.  It was the fifth win on the year and a new lifetime mark for the winner.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies

The field of eight saw Center Attraction (American Ideal) grab the early lead over Goodlucksweetheart with some urging and took them to the opening panel of 29. Just past opening panel, Jim Devaux, driving Goodlucksweetheart, popped out of the pocket to regain the lead.

Approaching the half at 1:00.2, Idontthinkso with Jason Bartlett came first over with a quick brush but was stalled on the outside and never saw the wood. James McNeight, sitting third with Center Attraction, pulled in the paddock turn three-wide to get past the leg weary Idontthinkso.

Midway in the lane, Center Attraction found another gear and paced away from Arrive in Style in 2:00.3. – $11.20. Goodlucksweetheart was third. Center Attraction is trained by co-owner Robert Anderson along with co-owner Pamela L. Schienber of Frewsburg, N.Y.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts

The glamour division saw Kisses From Above (American Ideal), one of the two 4/5 favorites, first off the gate, getting the lead for driver Jim Devaux and taking the pack to the opening stanza of 28.2. At the half in 59.3, the other 4/5 favorite, Wild Dude (Bruce Aldrich Jr.), got underway and came first over only to see Kisses From Above scoot away by three as they hit the next panel in 1:29.2.

The lead would diminish as the two paced down the lane but Kisses From Above held off Wild Dude by a neck in 2:00.1 – $3.70. Jimmy Boltthe Door was third. Kisses From Above was a $7,000 yearling purchase and is trained by David Dewhurst. It was her fifth win on the year and pushed her seasonal earnings over $20,000.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kimberly Winston, for Monticello Raceway