Some of the best racing of the year at Monticello Raceway took place on Monday, July 25 when the two-year-old pacing fillies visited on the fourth leg of their New York Sire Stakes tour. Tyler Buter and Wally Hennessey each won three races on the card, trainer Brett Pelling scored a pair and trainer Cory Mumford notched double.
The early muddy track conditions didn’t thwart Vivians Dream in her attempt to remain undefeated in her division of New York Sire Stakes, racing for a purse of $52,500.
Going into the first turn and down the backside, there was a tussle over who would get the lead first: Alabama Hannah, Hunting Season and Vivians Dream all were in the thick of it. Vivians Dream was parked to the quarter in :27.3 by Alabama Hannah (Tyler Buter) and then cleared. Hunting Season (Mark MacDonald) then pulled the pocket and was the new leader as they passed the halfway mark in :56.1. Up to this point, Vivians Dream was content to sit the pocket but at they neared the third quarter stanza in 1:25.2, Vivians Dream was on the move first-over. Down the lane, the two fillies slugged it out in a tight photo finish, but Vivians Dream held off Hunting Season in 1:54.4, just two-fifths of a second off the track record. Dame finished third.
Vivians Dream has now won four consecutive races, all of them in NYSS competition. Monday’s win pushed her earnings over $106,000. The daughter of American Ideal-Sports Chic, a $50,000 yearling acquisition, is trained by Cory Mumford and was driven by Wally Hennessey.
The second division of NYSS, worth $52,500, had a field of six. Rock My Socks (Jason Bartlett) was first away from the gate and remained on the front end, carrying the pack through fractions of :28.4 and :59.1. Just past the half, the 1-5 favourite Earthwindfire and driver Jack Pelling tipped to the outside and mounted a challenge against the pacesetter, looking her in the eye first over at the third quarter pole in 1:27.2. In a spirited stretch duel between the two, Earthwindfire uncorked a :27.4 final quarter and scored by a scant head over Rock My Socks in 1:55.2. Linemup Knockmback (Tyler Buter) finished third.
The time of the mile was a new lifetime mark for the American Ideal-Road Bet daughter, who is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing.
In Excelsior action, Tyler Buter and George Ducharme teamed up for a double with A division winner Celia B Money ($5.70) in 1:58.4 and Everdeen ($3.10) in 2:00.3 in a B event.
The other A divisions winners were: Chikfromfrenchlick ($7.50) and Luke Hanners in 1:59.4; Rec Time ($2.80) and Jason Bartlett in 1:57.4; Southwind Bella ($3.80) and Jack Pelling in 1:55.1; and At The Hop ($7.40) with Wally Hennessey in 1:57.4.
Buter also won the other B division in rein to Polyester ($2.60) in 2:00.
NYSS action returns next Monday, Aug. 1, when the two-year-old trotting colts take center stage. Post time is 12:10 p.m.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)