Sophomore fillies impress in Vernon NYSS
July 12, 2018,by John Horne, for Vernon Downs
Vernon, NY — Vernon Downs featured three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Thursday (July 12). Each division carried a purse of $39,900.
Fotowon photo
Dance Blue took top honors in Thursday’s New York Sire Stakes at Vernon Downs with a 1:51.2 score.
Dance Blue ($17.60, Josert Fonseca) sprung an upset in the third and final division after stalking from off the pace, and her 1:51.2 mile was the fastest Sire Stakes win of the night.
Apothic (Mark MacDonald) led the group to a first quarter time of :27 before Jewels Forreal (Matt Kakaley) took over nearing the halfway point in :55.4. Just after the half, Dance Blue took control and led them to three-quarters in 1:23.1 before breezeing home in the stretch to win in a lifetime best of 1:51.2. Jewels Forreal was second best and Apothic finished third.
Dance Blue, a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, secured her second win of the season and her career for trainer Nancy Johansson and owners Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband and Goran Anderberg.
In the first division, Ms Cheesman ($9.50, John MacDonald) followed favorite Newsday (Jim Marohn Jr.) for the first three-quarters of the mile through fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:24.2. She angled out at the top of the stretch and blew right by to win in a lifetime best of 1:52.2. Presto Blue Chip (Drew Monti) charged late to finish second, while Checkered Past (Jim Morrill Jr.) was third best.
Ms Cheesman, a daughter of Betterthancheddar, earned her fourth win this season and fifth of her career for owners Bay Pond Racing and trainer Jessica Okusko.
In the second division, Pueblo Blue Chip ($5.20, Matt Kakaley) used a first-over push to edge Ubettergo Go. Betterthanbrie (Josert Fonseca) charged to the front and led the group to a first quarter of :28 before Ubettergo Go (Mark MacDonald) brushed to the lead and controlled a half of :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25. Pueblo Blue Chip went first-over from third just before the three-quarter pole and traded blows with Ubettergo Go all the way down the stretch. Pueblo Blue Chip used one last lunge to win in a lifetime mark of 1:52.2. Ubettergo Go had to settle for second, while Azreal As It Gets (John MacDonald) took third.
Pueblo Blue Chip, a daughter of American Ideal, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Menary Racing Inc. and Michael Guerrero. It was her third win in four starts in 2018 and the fourth of her career.
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday (July 13) with a 13-race card starting at 6:10 p.m.