by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Who says racing fans won’t bet on 2-year-old trotters? Certainly no one from Monticello Raceway. On Thursday (July 25), racing fans, both on and off track, wagered more than $785,000 on the card which featured eight races of freshman trotting fillies in the $130,000 New York Sires Stakes and the $50,000 Excelsior Series.

And two weeks earlier, with a betting card which featured 2-year-old trotting colts in Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series action, fans poured more than $995,000 through the betting machines.

Of the four $32,662 NYSS filly trots on Thursday, arguably the most impressive winner was Larry Dumain and Carlo Lattinelli’s L Dees Scripture, who was driven to a 2:00.3 victory by Andy Miller in the filly’s second lifetime start.

Miller also won another division when he guided Annie’s List home first in a 2:02.4 clocking. A third split was won by Maud Blue Chip in 2:01.2 for Cat Manzi while the fourth NYSS division saw Jason Bartlett drive Ruby Ruby Who to a 2:02.1 triumph.

Geri Schwarz photo

L Dees Scripture was driven to a 2:00.3 victory by Andy Miller in the filly’s second lifetime start.

Although all the winning fillies went outstanding miles, especially so early in their careers, L Dees Scripture’s victory stood out. Trained by Julie Miller and driven by her husband Andy, the daughter of Credit Winner-Graceful Way went wire-to-wire from the pole position, trotting every quarter around 30 seconds and finishing 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Exotic Form, a daughter of Malabar Man-Form Fitting, driven by Dan Daley.

L Dees Scripture won her first lifetime start at Tioga Downs in the Tompkins-Geers on July 18 in 1:58.3.

“She’s a real nice filly and she does everything right,” Miller said of L Dees Scripture. She paid $2.60 for win.

As it turned out Miller won the very next race, another NYSS filly trot, with Annie’s List in a 2:02.4 clocking with a final stanza in :29.4. The daughter of Conway Hall-Annie’s Promise got away soft from the pole position and with a quarter pole move to the lead the ball game was over. Once on top Annie’s List breezed to an easy 1-1/2 length triumph over Winning Pursuit, a daughter of Credit Winner-Victor’s Pursuit driven by Jason Bartlett.

“I was careful with her leaving out of there because she’s still green and learning,” Miller said.

When asked if this race was the one he really wanted to win, he chuckled and replied, “Yes it was, for my best owner,” referring to the filly who is owned by his wife Julie and himself.

When asked where he got the filly he broke out in a big smile and said, “We gave $2,500 for her at Harrisburg last fall.”

Annie’s List returned a $2.50 win mutuel.

A third NYSS split saw Jason Bartlett guide Roy Dobbins’ Ruby Ruby Who to a 2:02.1 victory in the filly’s first lifetime start. Like the other winners, Bartlett used the front-end route with the Turbonator-BJ’s Promise K filly to score a one length victory over Lady And The Cash, a daughter of Cash Hall-Lady Berndt driven by John Campbell. Ruby Ruby Who paid $8.50 for win.

Cat Manzi returned to the racetrack where he began his illustrious career and reined a winner in both the NYSS and the Excelsior Series. The Catman won a Sires Stakes trot with Maud Blue Chip, a daughter of Credit Winner-Queen Of The Moor, in an impressive 2:01.2.

After allowing Flyhawk Falina (Cash Hall-Nowerland Nanette) and driver Dan Daley to take command and cut the fractions, Manzi waited to the homestretch to move Maud Blue Chip out to challenge and she picked up all the marbles when she trotted to the front and went on to score a 1-1/4 length victory over Daley’s filly.

“She’s real tight and a smart filly,” Manzi said in the winner’s circle after the victory. “Chuck (Sylvester — the filly’s trainer) doesn’t rush them and lets them come into their own.”

Maud Blue Chip is owned by David McDuffee, Melvin Hartman and Little E LLC. She paid $7.40 for win.

Manzi also won an Excelsior Series trot with Dr. Patty Hogan’s Conway Hall-So Wonderful filly Trish in 2:05.1 for trainer Ed Lohmeyer. Andy Miller also won an Excelsior Series trot with Moon’s Twilight, a daughter of Cash Hall-Muscles Moonshine, in 2:05.1 for owner Serge Beaumont. Brett Crawford won an Excelsior split with his Credit Winner-Bibbidi Bobbidi filly Julmyra in 2:05.3 He co-owns her with his wife Michelle. A final and most impressive victory in the afternoon’s Excelsior Series trots was the one turned in by Sweet Jessie T when Gates Brunet drove her to a 2:03 triumph with a :30 last quarter. The daughter of Cash Hall-Rucoucou is owned by Ted Gewertz, Debra Brunet and Jean Brunet. Sweet Jessie T paid $4.50 for win.