by Michael Costanzo, simulcast manager, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — The 2008 New York Sire Stakes season will continue at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Sunday (June 22) when seven divisions of 3-year-old filly pacers will highlight the 13-race matinee program.

A total of 53 fillies are scheduled to contest the second round of Sire Stakes for female sophomore pacers, headlined by Artimittateslife, who exits a second-place performance in the $718,370 Fan Hanover Final at Mohawk and will start in Sunday’s $37,459 seventh race split.

Owned and bred by Robert Young, Paul Gazzola, and Brian Barton, Artimittateslife has visited the winner’s circle four times during her career, including a triumph in a June 7 elimination for the aforementioned Fan Hanover at Mohawk. Last season, the Edward Hart trainee finished second in the $150,000 New York Sire Stakes juvenile filly pace final on the Night of Champions program at Yonkers.

Artimittateslife has drawn post two for Sunday’s pace and will be driven by Stephane Bouchard.

Scheduled to challenge Artimittateslife from post one is Aquilea, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight that was winless during her 2-year-old season, but has found the wire first in each of her last four outings, including a New York Sire Stakes victory in 2:00.3 over a sloppy track at Buffalo on June 13. Owned by Wize Advisors LLC and trained by Jim Martuscello, Aquilea will be driven by Jim Morrill, Jr.

Riverbank Hanover, who also exits a New York Sire Stakes win at Buffalo on June 13 in 1:59, will start from post five in Sunday’s seventh race division for owner Michael Bucaria, trainer Jodi Schillaci, and driver Sam Schillaci.

In the afternoon’s $38,158 eighth race, Marilyn and Heiman Gross’ Hannah Isabel will look to tally her fourth straight victory of the year when starting from post seven in her NYSS split. A two-time winner in 2007, Hannah Isabel was a commanding 3-1/2 length victor in her last start, taking a New York Sire Stakes division at Buffalo Raceway in 1:57.2, and paced a winning mile at Tioga Downs earlier in the season where she stopped the timer in 1:53. Jim Morrill, Jr. will be at the lines for trainer Jean Drolet.

Looking to upend Hannah Isabel in the eighth race New York Sire Stakes division at Saratoga will be Kissing Bandit, who starts from post three for the Deo Volente Farms LLC, trainer Erv Miller, and driver Bouchard. The daughter of Art Major is winless in three starts during her sophomore season, including a third-place finish behind Hannah Isabel at Buffalo, but was the divisional champion in 2007 with a 1:56.2 triumph in the New York Sire Stakes juvenile filly pacing final at Yonkers.

Other notable 3-year-old filly pacers scheduled to compete in Sire Stakes events at Saratoga on Sunday include JK Majorette, a five-time winner in 2007 that exits a 1:58.3 victory at Buffalo; Flip For Love, who paced a winning mile in 1:55.4 over the Saratoga oval last year; and First Draw, a winner of $116,165 this year, including a 1:53 triumph at Woodbine on April 17.