by John Horne, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Vernon Downs will host two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday (July 19). Atlanta, a track record-holder, will headline the evening card at the Miracle Mile.

Fotowon photo

Atlanta returns to action in NYSS company at Vernon Downs on Thursday evening.

Atlanta (Scott Zeron) will compete in the second division of the NYSS ($61,300) and is installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The last time the Chapter Seven filly took to the track at Vernon she won the $238,613 Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) final. She trotted the fastest mile ever at Vernon Downs in a time of 1:50.3, easily beating Plunge Blue Chip (Muscle Mass) by 4-1/2 lengths.

This is significant as Plunge Blue Chip just posted a world record time of 1:49.4 for 3-year-old trotters of either sex at the Meadowlands on Saturday (July 14) in the second of two Del Miller Memorial divisions ($128,500).

Atlanta, who is trained by Rick Zeron for owners Holland Racing Stable, Howard Taylor and Brad Grant, is four-for-four as a sophomore. Her last time out she won a leg of the NYYS ($40,600) at Tioga Downs where she once again easily beat Plunge Blue Chip, setting the track record for 3-year-old fillies in 1:52.2.

Her toughest competitor will be 3-1 morning line second choice, Lucky Ava (Ake Svanstedt). She is part of the Svanstedt-trained entry along with Fury Road (Dan Dube). Lucky Ava (Lucky Chucky) is owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC. and Van Camp Trotting Corp. he has four wins in seven starts so far this season. She has won NYSS races at Yonkers Raceway ($42,975), Monticello Raceway ($30,450) and Buffalo Raceway ($29,250).

In the first division of the NYSS ($60,200), the morning line favorite is Lima Novelty (Scott Zeron) at 2-1. A filly by Chapter Seven, she is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano. She has three wins in 2018. She has won the Mary Reynolds Stakes ($66,200) at the Meadowlands and a NYSS race at Buffalo Raceway ($30,450).

The second morning line choice in the second division is Ciao Dolce (Svanstedt) at 3-1. She is by Credit Winner and is owned by Kjell Anderson and trained by Svanstedt. She has won NYSS races at Monticello Raceway ($29,850) and Buffalo Raceway ($29,850).

The nine-race card starts at Venon Downs starts on Thursday (July 19) at 6:10 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com.