Vernon Downs welcomes two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing filly trotters on Thursday, with both divisions offering a purse of $58,000.
The David Dewhurst-trained Racine Bell (John MacDonald) is the morning line favourite in the first division. The So Surreal filly was second best in a leg of the NYSS at Yonkers. She has four career victories and has won over $150,000 in her career. Her only win this season was a 1:51.2 mile at Vernon Downs.
One of her chief rivals is the Andrew Harris-trained JK Finendandy. She is still looking for her first career victory but has four seconds and a third in 15 career starts. The American Ideal filly has earned over $100,000 in her career.
Dragon Roll (Jim Morrill, Jr.) should also be a top contender. Trained by Chris Ryder, she has a third and a fourth in NYSS action this year. The filly by Roll With Joe has two career wins in eight lifetime starts.
Hen Party (Andrew McCarthy) should be the one to beat in the second division. The Roll With Joe filly already has NYSS wins at Yonkers and Tioga Downs this season. Trained by Tony Alagna, she has five lifetime wins and has banked almost $230,000 in her career.
So Rude (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and Merga Hanover (Matt Kakaley) both have NYSS wins this season and should be the major contenders in the second division.
So Rude (So Surreal) is trained by Jennifer Bongiorno. She won a leg of the NYSS at Yonkers and finished second to Merga Hanover at Tioga Downs. She has two wins this season and four career victories with earnings of over $150,000 in her lifetime.
Merga Hanover (American Ideal) got her first win as a sophomore with a NYSS victory at Tioga Downs. She has seven career wins and has earned over $200,000 lifetime. The filly is trained by Ron Burke.
Vernon Downs will host the 15-race card at 4 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)