Driver Jim Morrill Jr. won five of the seven divisions of the New York State Fair Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers and trotters Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs
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The first came with Whats New Pussycat in the first of four divisions for the three-year-old filly pacers. Morrill found himself in what appeared to be an impossible spot rounding the final turn as Whats New Pussycat struggled through the final turn fourthth on the rail and pinned in. When the fillies turned for home, Morrill found some wiggle room and took to the outside and surged past the second-place-finishing Ms Malicious, stopping the timer in 1:53.2.
Whats New Pussycat, by Art Major-Molly Can Do It, is trained by Nick Surick for co-owners JL Benson Stables and KDM Stables Corp.
Win number two came in the first division of the NYSF for three-year-old filly trotters when Morrill benefited from an early break of the race favourite Conwayslassie. Morrill sat in third with Brooklyn until moving first-up down the backside and clearing thru the final turn before stopping the teletimer in 1:58.3.
Brooklyn, by Conway Hall-Anna Karins Girl, is trained by Frank Antonacci for owner Adam Victor and Son Stable LLC.
With the rain starting to fall a little heavier, Morrill then found himself in the winner’s circle in the very next race, this time with New Album. Morrill controlled the tempo from start to finish winning handily in 1:53.1.
New Album, by Western Terror-Always Remember, is trained by Mark Kesmodel, who co-owns with Jeffrey Bamond and Baron Racing Stable.
In the featured eighth race, the darling of harness racing, See You At Peelers, was scratched from the race as the 2-5 morning line choice. Second trainer and driver Marcus Johansson said after warming up the undefeated superstar that “she didn’t like the track so after talking with trainer Jimmy Takter, they decided to scratch her.”
By then the rain was coming down sideways and the track had been changed to "sloppy." What was left was a slightly more competitive field of six that was captured with the now heavily favoured Southwind Jazmin and driver Jeff Gregory. Gregory got away third and brushed to the lead after the quarter and never looked back, cruising to a two and a quarter length victory in 1:53.
Southwind Jazmin, by Art Major-Juliets Fate, is trained by Mark Harder for owner Rick Phillips.
In the second division of NYSF filly trotters, Morrill picked up win number four with Temper Of Will in 1:59. Morrill never saw the rail in this one as he left from Post 8 only to find himself second-over behind the 29-1 shot Wiggs, who after a miscue at the start found herself parked outside race leader and bettor’s choice Imageofasweetday.
After following along, Morrill moved three-wide around a tiring Wiggs down the backside and then applied instant pressure to the race leader before clearing in the stretch and holding off a late charging Dreamgirl Lindy.
Temper Of Will, by Conway Hall-Dixie Crystal, is trained by Trond Smedshammer for co-owners Roger Slobody, Alfred Ross, and Raymond Campbell Jr.
The final division of three-year-old pacing fillies saw Morrill with a chance to win number five on the day with even money favoured Shyaway. That chance would dwindle quickly after Shyaway made a break around the first turn leaving her sixth on the outside and fending for herself. Jason Bartlett and Miss Annie J took advantage by grabbing the lead and never relinquishing it while cruising to a five and a quarter length win in 1:53.3.
Miss Annie J, by Bettors Delight-Mystical Dreamer, is trained by Linda Toscano for owner Kenneth Jacobs.
Morrill got another chance in the last division of three-year-old trotting fillies and did not disappoint with heavy race favourite Some Girls. Although getting away farther back than he would have liked, he was able to move Some Girls third-over and three-wide around the last turn to pick off her tiring opponents one by one until there was no one left, stopping the timer in 1:58.1.
Some Girls, by Conway Hall-Emotional Rescue, is trained by Gates Brunet, who co-owns with Ted Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal and Y. Jean Brunet.
(Tioga Downs)