by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Sophomore trotting fillies in the New York Sire Stakes raced for a total purse of $225,568 at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, September 3, many with hopes of earning enough points to be eligible to the $175,000 final later this month at Yonkers Raceway.

Of the four $61,392 divisions, two were won by driver Stephane Bouchard when he guided Winbak Dream to a 2:01.2 victory in the second division and Mystical Starlight home first in the third split.

But it was Jimmy Morrill, Jr. who got the afternoon underway when he guided Thomas Lail’s It’s Coast Time to a 2:00.3 victory in the first race on the card.

Sent off as the favorite in the race, Morrill was content to let Stephane Bouchard cut the early fractions with RC Biscuit but with a second-over journey Morrill hustled It’s Coast Time into the fray and at the top of the lane he fanned her three-deep and rallied to victory over RC Biscuit in a time of 2:00.3. Perugia took home the show dough for Jimmy Marohn, Jr.

The winner, a daughter of Credit Winner-West Coast, raised her seasonal earnings to over $136,000.

Then Bouchard took center stage.

In the next division he sent Winbak Dream to the front and made every pole a winning one en route to a 2:01.2 victory over La Dolce (Mike Merton) and Satin Pillows (Jason Bartlett).

Owned by Joe Flynn and Ed Flynn and trained by Joe Flynn the daughter of Malabar Man-Sierra Fortune now has over $106,000 on her card this year.

Geri Schwarz photo

After clearing traffic, Mystical Starlight romped to victory for Stephane Bouchard.

In the next split Bouchard had the odds-on favorite Mystical Starlight from post position two and as the race progressed Bouchard found himself locked in with nowhere to go when the field rushed by the three-eighths pole. Still hopelessly buried in traffic around the clubhouse turn when the trotters headed up the backstretch, Bouchard decided to back out and try to go around the leaders which proved to be a winning move.

Once clear on the outside Bouchard hustled Mystical Starlight three-deep as they passed the three-quarters and they were still in that position around the final turn. But as the field straightened in the lane the Credit Winner-Miss Lovely filly put it in another gear and trotted off to an easy victory over American Pride (Jeff Bolyard) and Fresco’s Winner (Brian Mattison) in a 2:00.2 clocking.

Asked if he thought he’d ever get free Bouchard flashed a wry smile and answered, “I wasn’t nervous. I knew that I’d get clearance.”

However, the filly’s owner, Ken Tucci, who was in the winner’s circle for the presentation and heard the question aimed at Bouchard quipped, “Maybe Stephane wasn’t nervous but I was. I wasn’t sure he’d get out and even when he did I didn’t know if she (Mystical Starlight) could make up all the ground and survive that three wide move around the final turn. But she did and won with ease.”

It was the third win — all consecutive — in just seven seasonal starts for Mystical Starlight, which spawned another question, this one aimed at Tucci. Why only seven starts?

“She qualified real good early — even second to Snow White in the qualifier — but she got sick and had many setbacks, but since July she’s come around and come around very nicely.”

Trond Smedshammer won the final NYSS division with Susan XYZ. Smedshammer and Susan XYZ took command early and they were never seriously challenged en route to a gate-to-wire, 2:00.2 victory over There’s A Way (Jimmy Morrill, Jr.) and Gotta Luv It (Jimmy Devaux).

Though winless coming into the race, Smedshammer had an inkling that his filly would race well.

“She warmed-up good and I felt then that she’d go a good trip today,” he said in the winner’s circle after the victory.

Even with just one victory in nine starts, Susan XYZ’s seasonal bankroll is at nearly $110,000. The Credit Winner-My Own Hanover filly is owned by Bob and David Anderson, Rod Ferguson and John Fielding.