The last leg of the 2018 sire stakes took place at Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon, as three-year-old pacing fillies closed out the season with a bang.
The first heat of Sire Stakes was worth $61,300. Apothic and Mark Macdonald started from post 3 and took the field to the quarter in :26.2 - the fastest opening quarter of the year. The duo still set the pace to the half in :55.2, but Apothic started to tire down the back side as Solitary became the new leader as the field passed the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1.
As they turned for home Newsday ranged into contention after enduring a brutal trip on the outside, Better Than Happy who benefitted from a perfect two-hole trip the entire mile took advantage of the passing lane. The pair paced stride for stride down the lane and hit the wire in a dead heat in 1:53.3.
Better Than Happy is owned by Joe P Racing LLC of Delray Beach Florida and is trained by Jennifer Bongiorno and was driven by Joe Bongiorno. Newsday, a bay filly by Art Major, is trained by co-owner Richard Silverman, Scot Zeron was the driver.
In the second division of Sire Stakes, also racing for a purse of $61,300, divisional point leader Wisdom Tree started from post position 8. Scott Zeron rushed the Betterthancheddar filly away from the gate, she made the front just past the quarter in :27.4. Once on the front end, she controlled the fractions :56.1 and 1:24.4 to win in 1:52.4 by two lengths. The effort was just a tick off the track record of 1:52.3.
Wisdom Tree is owned by Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher, she picked up her ninth win of the year for trainer Ed Hart.
Bullvillekarla (Jim Marohn, Jr.) scored a wire-to-wire win in her Excelsior A heat in 1:55.3. The Bullville Powerful filly is owned and trained by Steve Crevani. Mink Pink was second followed by So Long Darling.
Psychic Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) overtook the early pacesetters to win her division in 1:55.1 over the heavy favourite KJs Justine. The Art Major filly is trained by Joseph Skowyra and earned her fifth win of the year.
Escape Again went wire-to-wire in her race to win by a length in 1:54.3 for owner/trainer Troyce Thomas. The daughter of Artiscape was driven by Jim Marohn, Jr.
The first heat of the Excelsior B class in race 1 was a four-horse field. Lady Orb extended her win streak to three-in-a-row and picked up her fourth seasonal win for trainer Erv Miller. the daughter of Art Major scored in 1:57.3 and returned $3.10 to win for driver Marcus Miller.
Reflexionofroyalty notched her first win of the season in 1:57.3. the American Ideal lass is trained by Allen Sisco and was driven by Kyle Dibenedetto.
(Monticello Raceway)