Saratoga hosts $172,500 NYSS Friday

The New York Sires Stakes returned to The Spa on Friday (July 28) evening in a harness racing card featuring 15 races and Royal Filly (Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty) was the star of Saratoga Casino Hotel, winning the $87,000 NYSS split for sophomore fillies.

Tyler Buter and Royal Filly were the pacesetter team for the mile, clocking each panel in :29, :58.2, and 1:26.4 before winning by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:55.2. Pride N Joy (Niko Karna) finished second and Destinys Darling (Jordan Stratton) was third.

ROYAL FILLY REPLAY

Trained by Tony Alagna, the filly is owned by Crawford Farms Racing as she won her third start of the season, pushing her seasonal bankroll to $139,722.  Royal Filly paid $2.50 to win as the bettors’ choice.

Canterbury Hanover (Chapter Seven-Charmed Life) took home the winner’s share of the $85,500 purse in the second NYSS for sophomore trotting fillies with trainer Jeff Gregory in the bike.

Canterbury Hanover got away fifth, eight lengths off the leading On The House (Miller) who took the field to the quarter in :28.2. After a miscue from the leader, Jeans Action (Jim Devaux) took over to lead the field to the half in :59.2.

Woolco (Stratton) was on a first over advance, followed by Canterbury Hanover. With Woolco leading the outer charge, the field continued split in two at the three-quarters in 1:28.2. Down the lane, it was a close battle for the win and came down to Woolco and Canterbury Hanover. In the photo for win, Canterbury Hanover prevailed by a nose in 1:57.2. Woolco was second and Jeans Action was fourth, placed third.

Jesmeral Stable co-owns the filly with the Let It Ride Stables Inc. It was the second win of the season and fourth career victory for Canterbury Hanover, who paid $3.20 to win.

CANTERBURY HANOVER REPLAY

Three $20,000 NYSS Excelsior divisions featured wins by Eee Z Wow (Crazy Wow, $8.70), driven to victory in 1:58.1 by Tyler Buter for trainer Rob Harmon; Seven Bridges Road (Chapter Seven, $36.40), steered by John Stark, Jr. to a 1:58.4 win for trainer Maureen Salino; and George Ducharme trainee Serendipity (Chapter Seven, $2.50), driven by Marcus Miller to victory in 1:58.

Duckdodgendive (Deweycheatumnhowe) won the $18,200 Winners Over/Open Handicap for trainer and owner Laurie Tranowicz.

Wally Hennessey and Duckdodgendive were parked to the quarter in :27.4 before assuming command of the field of nine. Once at the helm, the pair continued through panels in :57.4 and 1:26.4 with a last quarter in :28.4 en route to a 2-1/2 length achievement in 1:55.3. Yucatan Party Man (Billy Dobson) finished second with Grinder (Devaux) third.

Duckdodgendive is a five-year-old gelding who collected his fifth win of the season and 20th career victory, moving his career tally to $162,414.

Hennessey piloted a total of five horses to victory on the evening card including All The Truth ($6.10) in 1:56.4 and Creditized ($4.40) in 2:01.1 for Brett Derue; A Million Chuckles ($7.60) in 2:00 for Eric Mollor; and Circuit Party ($22.80) in 1:56 for Dan Cappello, Jr.

Racing resumes at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday (July 29) evening with 13 races on tap and a first post of 6:45 p.m.

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

by Jessica Hallett, for Saratoga Raceway