by John Manzi

Monticello, NY — Double Major was possibly the smallest of the 24 freshman pacing fillies set to go in the $150,000 New York Sire Stakes at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon, August 30 but that didn’t stop her from reeling in a 1:56.3 victory in her $50,293 division.

Geri Schwarz Photo

Small but fast and gritty Double Major out-foots Bettor B Lucky to the wire for a 1:56.3 triumph the fastest of the 3 NYSS splits.

Jason Bartlett was at the controls when the Linda Toscano trained daughter of Art Major-Mommy Robin Q turned in the fastest clocking of the three splits on tap that day.

But Double Major’s victory didn’t come without an extra effort. After the betting favorite Bettor B Lucky, driven by Jimmy Morrill, Jr., grabbed the lead Bartlett took a seat in the three-hole in behind Hayworth Blue Chip with Ray Schnittker aboard, and both drivers were content to let Morrill cut the fractions.

After a soft half in :59 the crowd felt good about the favorite’s chances from there but Bartlett had a different feeling, and when the field straightened in the backstretch he moved Double Major off the pylons and challenged Bettor B Lucky for the lead.

The two fillies raced eyeball-to-eyeball around the final turn and into the homestretch and in the final strides Double Major got up to collar Bettor B Lucky to score a neck triumph. Hayworth Blue Chip finished third.

Joyous owner Kenny Jacobs was on hand to help throw her blanket on his filly and then he turned to converse with Bartlett and naturally both were smiling after the victory.

Jacobs was then asked about Double Major. “We bought her at Lexington for $60,000 and though she was a little thing I loved her mother (Mommy Robin Q) and felt if she didn’t grow a whole lot she’d probably be good on a half(mile track).”

Now with six starts under her belt Double Major now has three wins a three thirds and purses in excess of $60,000. She paid $5.00 for win.

With owners Rick Phillips and Wendy and Skip Spring on hand their Centralia Hanover forced them to rush to the winners circle for the blanket presentation after Jimmy Morrill,Jr. guided the Art Major-Calgary Hanover filly to a 1:57.4 triumph in the second split.

After the start Park Lane Paige and Bruce Aldrich, Jr. ranged up to take command before the quarter in:28.3 and they then led the field by the half in :57.3 . Up the backside Morrill moved Centralia Hanover to the outside and they rushed up alongside the leader and began to draw away by a half-length as the two came off the final turn.

Geri Schwarz Photo

Centralia Hanover (#7-Jim Morrill, Jr.) wore down the leader for a 1:57:4 victory.

In the lane Park Lane Paige tired a bit which was fortunate for the Centralia Hanover connections because she eased up much to the dismay of Jimmy Morrill, Jr. However Centralia Hanover won the event over Park lane Paige in a tight photo. Sir Erika Z Tam took home the show dough for driver Pat Lachance.

The Springs and Rick Phillips joined Morrill in the winner’s circle after their filly’s victory.

Morrill, who usually doesn’t say much could be overheard telling the owners that their filly pulled up. “On the final turn I thought we’d win by five but she (Centralia Hanover) just let go,” Morrill said to which Wendy Spring responded, “Maybe it’s the trucking to Canada (for the Eternal Camnation stakes at Mohawk Racetrack) and then back home and then here to Monticello that has her a little off. Maybe she needs a little time off?” “She may have pulled up a bit but we still got $25,000 today,” Morrill said sardonically.

Centralia Hanover, trained by Mark Harder, paid $3.90 for win.

A final $50,293 division saw Brandon Simpson and Bella Marta (Art Major-Noble Martha) score a 1:58 triumph over Silk Purse and Jason Bartlett.

With faith in his filly Simpson moved Bella Marta from third to the lead in a soft :29.3 quarter and they gained command and led the field by the half in 1:00.1. Just before the half Jimmy Devaux was out and going with Sha Delight and they ranged alongside the leader as the field passed the third stanza.

Bella Marta still had half-length lead on Sha Delight when they rounded the turn but when Jason Bartlett found room up the lightning lane for Silk Purse they challenged Bella Marta to the wire and second best was all they could garner as Simpson’s filly held on for a neck victory.

Brandon’s dad, Dirk, in from the Midwest, joined his son in the winner’s circle for the joyous celebration. It was there that Simpson was asked why he gamely made a quarter pole move on the leader and betting favorite Silk Purse.

“She’s (Bella Marta) been getting better with every start and I wanted to try her on the front-end,” Simpson explained. “I thought we were the best and it turned out I was right.”

Brandon Simpson also trains Bella Marta who is owned by Vincent Costa Jr. and the Dirk Simpson Stable. She returned a $4.40 win mutuel.