R Melina breezes in $168,000 NYSS dash

After clearing to the lead after the opening quarter mile in :27.3, R Melina (Chapter Seven) and harness racing driver Tyler Buter had an easy time in wiring the field to win the $168,000 New York Sire Stakes dash for three-year-old trotting fillies Friday (Aug. 16) at Saratoga Raceway.

With Sister Mary Maude (Brett Beckwith) sitting the pocket trip, R Melina and Buter cut fractions of :56.2 to the half mile and 1:25.4 with Sadbirdstillsing (Jason Bartlett) trying a first-over move in the backstretch to no avail as R Melina sped off in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:54.1. Sister Mary Maude held for second with Sadbirdstillsing third.

R MELINA REPLAY

The final time just missed Quincy Blue Chip’s track record for fillies by just a fifth of a second.

R Melina is trained by John Butenschoen for owners M And L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates LLC. R Melina has 13 wins, two seconds and two thirds in 22 appearances, has pocketed $714,514 in purse earnings and paid $2.40 to win as the 1/5 favorite.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink