by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Goshen, NY — Two young ladies made an impression on Stephane Bouchard on Thursday (July 3) at Historic Track.

Stolly Up Bluechip and Eagle Way gave Bouchard and trainer Mark Ford a sweep of the Landmark Stakes divisions for 2-year-old filly pacers. Stolly Up Bluechip won by a half-length over Perfect Launch in 1:59, just three-fifths of a second off the track record, while Eagle Way beat B Intensified by a half-length in 2:00.2, including a :28.2 final quarter. Both fillies are owned by Frank Dettore.

Stolly Up Bluechip was a 1:59 winner for Stephane Bouchard.

“I thought the first one (Stolly Up Bluechip) was really good, but the second one was close to her,” Bouchard said. “Those are two good fillies there. I was impressed.”

It was the second win of the year for Stolly Up Bluechip, who on June 24 posted a 1:57 triumph at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. A daughter of Art Major out of the dam Stasia’s Girl, she was a $60,000 yearling purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale.

“She went in (1):59 and it was very easy,” Bouchard said. “There’s a lot of potential there. She felt like an older horse; it felt like she’d raced before. I know she has a few starts, but it feels like now she’s got experience. She knows what to do. She’s got the speed and manners. The heart? We’ll find that out later in the year.”

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

Eagle Way won her career debut in 2:00.2.

Eagle Way, bred by Dettore, was making her debut. She is by Dream Away out of Western Dancer.

“It was the same thing; good manners,” Bouchard said. “She was calm and sat in the hole perfect. When I moved her, she went very good. She went the last quarter in (:28.2) first-over. That’s very good for a 2-year-old around this track.”

Taking the divisions for male pacers were My Last Laugh (Sealed N Delivered-Fancy Creek Funny, Bouchard) in 2:03 and Allmyrowdyfriends (Bettor’s Delight-Heatherjeankillean, Gareth Dowse) in 2:03.3. Both horses were out of the Ray Schnittker Stable.

Winning the divisions for male trotters were Fabulous Frank (Broadway Hall-Tarport Lindsay, Schnittker) in 2:05.4, despite going off stride approaching the final turn, and Snowy Finn (Super Punk-East Wind Hanover, Pat Berry) in 2:11.

Fast Vacation (Dream Vacation-Whisper Speed, Steve Smith) and Allie Jae (Malabar Man-Imatagtoo, Norm Fluet) won the divisions for filly trotters in 2:06.2 and 2:07.1, respectively.

Racing continues on Friday, July 4, 1:00 p.m. post time, with Landmark Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacers and trotters, plus amateur events in the Billings Series and Catskill Amateur Drivers Club.