Atlanta and driver Scott Zeron rolled to an easy – and impressive – victory in the second of two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore trotting fillies Thursday evening at Vernon Downs.
Repentance (Jim Morrill, Jr.) took the field to the quarter in 27 before yielding to heavy favourite Atlanta ($2.10) in the backstretch. The Rick Zeron trainee stormed to the front just after the quarter and controlled the race through the remaining splits of :57 and 1:26.4. A :27-second closing quarter earned the filly the win in 1:53.4 over Lucky Ava (Ake Svanstedt) and Repentance.
Atlanta is a three-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven and is owned by the team of Rick Zeron, Crawford Farms, Howard Taylor, Holland Racing Stable, and Bradley Grant. She is now 5-for-5 this season and 9-for-14 in her career.
Lima Novelty (Scott Zeron) held off Ciao Dolce (Ake Svanstedt) to win the other division of the NYSS.
Ciao Dolce led the field to the quarter in :27.3 before Lima Novelty ($3.00) went first-over from fourth and brushed by to take the lead before hitting the half in :57. She continued to lead, hitting three-quarters in 1:26.1. Ciao Dolce followed in the pocket until mid stretch. She would go first over and battle down the rest of the stretch, but Lima Novelty dug in and held on to win in 1:54.1. Ciao Dolce settled for second while Tribute To Seven (Matt Kakaley) fired late to finish third.
Lima Novelty is a three-year-old filly by Chapter Seven. Owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, she won for the fourth time this season and the eighth time in her career.
Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday with an 11-race card starting at 6:10 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)