by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Wednesday, July 14, was a day at Monticello Raceway in which the weather changed from sunny to rainy and then back to sunny again, which rendered the racing surface in some of the 15 races on the card fast while others were raced in the mud.

But the sloppy going didn’t hamper Jordan Stratton, who won two of the four New York Sire Stakes Late Closer paces for sophomore fillies.

Geri Schwarz photo

Paper Princess turned in the fastest NYSS Late Closer clocking when she won in 1:59.3 for Jordan Stratton.

He scored in the sixth race — the third $13,300 split — with Paper Princess when they turned back Lightning Madison and Zeke Parker in a time of 1:59.3, which was a new lifetime best for the winner.

Stratton then copped the $13,300 fourth division — race eight — with Union And Ludlow over a muddy track in a 2:02.4 clocking. They got up in the final strides to collar Sweet Escape, who was driven by Jimmy Marohn, Jr.

Paper Princess, a Bettor’s Delight filly, is owned by Freddie Monteleone, while Union And Ludlow, a daughter of Art Major, is the property of Bloodstock Blue Chip and Steve Demeter. Both fillies are trained by Eddie Hart.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr. won the first $13,200 division with Dashboard Dancer over Slippin Away and Danny Cappello, Jr. in a 2:01.1 clocking. Trained by Linda Toscano, the daughter of Artiscape is owned by the Kovach Stables.

Another $13,300 division saw Zeke Parker hustle V’la Faire through a :29.2 final stanza en route to a one length, 2:00.3 triumph over Dandy Do Right and driver Billy Dobson. The daughter of Village Jove is owned by the Oakhurst Farms and trained by Dick Tomaszewski. Her victory sparked a comment from Parker, who usually doesn’t say much after he wins a race.

“She’s not very big but she’s got a big motor,” Parker chuckled in the winners circle as trainer Tomaszewski rushed from the paddock to take a photo with his filly. And as Tomaszewski jumped back in the van to go back to the paddock he said, “She’s (V’la Faire) a homebred,” and smiled as he added, “We own the dam.”

The victory, his 162nd of the meet, was one of four on the card for Parker. When the four were added to his career totals, Zeke now has reined 10,071 winners and he is one of only nine others who have topped the 10,000-win plateau in North America.