by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Stephane Bouchard won three of the four New York Sire Stakes Late Closer trots at Monticello Raceway on Monday, August 18, with his fastest ride coming behind Kenny Jacob’s Princessofhollywd when he guided the daughter of Conway Hall-J’onetta to a 1:59.3 victory in their $10,700 split.

Bouchard began his assault with a 1:59.4 triumph behind Purple Haze Stables’ Princess Hall in the fourth race on the card. Content to allow Fern Paquet, Jr. to cut the early fractions with Nora’s Dream T, Bouchard shadowed the leader and when he moved his filly to the outside after the three-quarters, Princess Hall trotted to the front and coasted home an easy six length winner. Hello Pretty City (Mickey McGivern) rambled home second best, one length ahead of Big Z Miranda (Jordan Stratton).

Princess Hall, a daughter of Conway Hall-Caroline Lobell trained by Jessica Okusko, was sent off as the 4-10 favorite and returned $2.80 for win. It was the filly’s second seasonal victory and a new lifetime mark.

Bouchard hit paydirt again in the following race when he guided Signal Hill Elvira to a two length victory in a time of 2:01.2 over Elizabeth Grace and driver Brian Allen in that $10,700 division.

Again Bouchard came from off the pace to gain command as the fillies neared the top of the stretch and from there the daughter of Camelot Ernst-Miss Amanda Jones opened up daylight between herself and the rest of the field as she trotted home a two length winner for her second victory of the season. Raining Credit finished third for Dude Goodblood.

The winner, trained by Bert Belanger for the Signal Hill Stable, returned a $4.70 win mutuel.

Geri Schwarz photo

Princessofhollywd’s 1:59.3 was the fastest of the four NYSS Late Closer trots.

However Bouchard wasn’t done yet and in the eighth race he reined Princessofhollywd to a stunning 10 length victory in a time of 1:59.3 in the final $10,700 late closer trot.

When Mike Forte sped through early fractions of :29 and :58.3 with Vindikate, Bouchard kept his filly on Forte’s back and as they neared the three-quarters in 1:28.4 Princessofhollywd had her nose in front on the outside. From there Bouchard put the pedal to the metal and his filly trotted off to an oh-so-easy victory. Vindikate held on for second place and Exceleration trotted home third best for Brian Walker.

Trained by Bob Bloodgood, Princessofhollywd paid $4.50 for win.

In the other $10,700 NYSS Late Closer trot, Brian Allen sent Iambillycoltrane, a daughter of Malabar Man-Winning Pam, to the lead away from the gate and they made every pole a winning one en route to a three length, 2:02.4 victory over Dusty Diamond and driver Fern Paquet, Jr. Iroquoindiandream took home the show dough for owner-driver Alan Schwartz.

Iambillycoltrane, who scored her second victory of the year, is also trained by Allen for owner Cheryl Costello. Sent off as the prohibitive 1-9 favorite the winner returned just $2.20 for win.