New York’s finest sophomore pacing fillies made their annual stop at Tioga Downs for a pair of $60,300 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes and the top two gals in the program as freshmen continued their dominance at three.
Twin B Joe Fresh (pictured above) was last year’s champ and is two-for-two in the program for 2023 after overcoming the outside post in today’s race as the 1-10 favourite for driver Jason Bartlett.
Leaving for position, Bartlett settled his charge in fourth as Rock My Socks (Tyler MilleR) used pylon position to park a rival through the :54.1 half, Bartlett’s cue to move over a lane to protect an eventual three-wide brush by the tiring leaders before the 1:22 three panels. The rest of the ride was easy as Twin B Joe Fresh coasted in through a :28.1 end to the 1:50.1 mile to hold the stalking Vivians Dream (Brian Sears) at bay. Southwind Bella (Jack Pelling) was third.
Chris Ryder trains the winner, a Brittany Farms bred daughter of Roll With Joe, for his own interests along with partners Dexter Dunn, Perry Trebotica and Barry Spak.
Jack Pelling drove the 2-5 favourite Earthwindfire like she was the best, protecting pylon position early on then setting sensible fractions to win by a measured length in a career-best 1:50.4. Sweet Home was a game first-over to be second in this one for Sears. Turn On The Charm (Marcus Miller) finished third.
The winner, second in last year's final, is trained in the Brett Pelling barn for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Partners and Tulip Racing -- the same group behind the 2022 Dan Patch Horse of the Year Test Of Faith. Stephen Dey bred the American Ideal half-sister to world champion Cattle Wash and Breeders Crown winner Niki Hill.
Three $20,000 divisions of the NY Excelsior stakes supported the featured events with No Cigar Tony (Bartlett), High Fashion Star (Tyler Miller) and Celia B Money (Scott Zeron) scoring victories in those.
Click here to view the seasonal point standings for the NYSS and Excel series.
(With files from Tioga Downs)