By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY—There were record breakers comingfrom everywhere at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 6) as the trackstandard was breached three times during the proceedings of the $108,2000 NewYork Sire Stakes (NYSS) and $30,000 Excelsior A series for 3-year-old trottingfillies.
Celebrity Ruth took the lead by the quarter pole and was never headed, trotting home in :28.2 to win by a length in 1:56.4 which broke the track record at Batavia Downs.
In the first $59,100 division, Mamora Bay (SamSchillaci) got away fourth behind a heated front-end battle between Deli-Delite(Drew Monti) and Busy Doing Nothing (Ray Fisher Jr.) that lasted until thehalf. At that point Schillaci pulled his filly, went three-wide around thefading Busy Doing Nothing and took the lead from Deli-Delite by thethree-quarter pole in 1:27. Now on a track record pace, Mamora Bay looked likethe only thing to beat was the clock, but Deli-Delight came back on and chasedher to the wire. But Mamora Bay hung tough to win by a half-length in 1:57.2,which tied the track record for age, gender and gait.
It was the second win of 2017 for Mamora Bay(Chapter Seven-Guilie Bi) who now has earned $95,881 this year for owner PeterBarbado. Mamora Bay ($3.40) is trained by Sam Schillaci.
In the second $59,100 split, Celebrity Ruth (JasonBartlett) took the lead by the quarter pole and was never headed from there asBartlett sat chilly the whole mile after the favored Barn Bella (Jeff Gregory)made a break by the eighth pole. Setting easy early fractions of :29.2 and:59.4, Bartlett loosened the lines a bit to try and put some distance betweenhis horse and Ostrich Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) who was sitting on his back. Theysmoked the third quarter in 1:28.2 and then with one line-tap from Bartlett,Celebrity Ruth trotted home in :28.2 to win by a length in 1:56.4 which brokethe track record.
It was the second win in five days for CelebrityRuth (Archangel-Celebrity Obsession) and sixth on the season. The winner’sshare of the purse has pushed the filly over the quarter-million dollar mark inearnings this year with $250,983 now in the bank. Celebrity Ruth ($4.30) isowned by White Birch Farm and trained by Trond Smedshammer.
Just because the NYSS divisions were over didn’tmean the record breaking had ended as well. There were still two $15,000divisions of the Excelsior A series to be run and one of them got in on theaction.
Paul White photos
Seventh Heaven took the lead at the three-quarters before coasting home under wraps in 1:56.4 to tie the three-race-old track record.
Seventh Heaven (Jason Bartlett) got off the wingsthird and took advantage of an expeditious half of :57.2 (which was faster thaneither NYSS contest) set by Billie Blue (Chris Lems) and took the lead at thethree-quarters before coasting home under wraps in 1:56.4 to tie thethree-race-old track record.
It was the seventh win for Seventh Heaven (ChapterSeven-Porque) this year and her efforts have now benefitted owner Richard Balogwith $50,800 in purses. Seventh Heaven (2.90) is trained by Linda Toscano.
The second Excelsior A division was won by AuntSusie (Credit Winner-Aunt Mel) who went gate to wire in 1:58.2. Aunt Susie($4.60) is owned by the Ervin Miller Stable, Paymaq Racing, the Nick SurickStable LLC and Louis Willinger. Nick Surick does the training and Jim MorrillJr. was in the sulky.