by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Gift Card’s 1:59.3 clocking turned out to be the fastest of four New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday September 15. Each split was worth approximately $44,000.

Other winners included She’s so Savvy, Beachcomber and Pembroke Firestorm.

Geri Schwarz photo

Gift Card and Tim Tetrick scored a one-length victory of Michelle’s Way in 1:59.3.

In their division Tim Tetrick fired Gift Card to the lead from post seven though she didn’t take command until she neared the quarter pole. From there Tetrick kept the pedal to the metal as the daughter of Credit Winner-Mary Lou Hall trotted by the half in :59:4. At that point Brent Holland moved Michelle’s Way from sixth position out to challenge and when the field moved up the backstretch the second time around Michelle’s Way zoomed by most of the traffic but stalled when she got alongside Gift Card.

The two fillies raced side by side around the final turn and through the lane and Michelle’s Way, who was riding a five-race win streak, faded in the deep stretch and had to settle for second money as Gift Card trotted a :29.2 final stanza en route to a one-length victory. Up In Class rallied to be third for Jan Johnson.

In the winner’s circle a scribe asked Tetrick if he was surprised by Gift Card’s performance. He shot back, “No, were you?”

The writer continued, “You beat a nice filly today,” referring to Michelle’s Way. Tetrick smiled and said softly, “She’s (Gift Card) is a nice filly, too!”

The winner is trained by Frank Antonacci for KR Breeding, Robert Rudolph and Gary Hoffman.

Jan Johnson hit pay dirt when he rallied Beachcomber to victory over Snowblind Lindy and Tim Tetrick in a 2:01.4 clocking in the second betting division.

Geri Schwarz photo

Jan Johnson rallied Beachcomber to victory over Snowblind Lindy in a 2:01.4 clocking in the second betting division.

In that contest Johnson took Beachcomber to the back of the pack from the eight-hole and they trailed the field until he moved her with cover after the half. From there the daughter of Conway Hall-Enjoy The Sun followed the leaders and when then field straightened away for home Johnson had Beachcomber in high gear on the far outside and the filly went from fourth to a one-length triumph. Doin the City, with Jordan Stratton aboard, took home the show dough.

Beachcomber, trained by Johnson, is owned by Arden Homestead and Adelaide Skoglund.

Oddly, another filly, Pembroke Firestorm, who stated from post position eight with Stephane Bouchard at the controls, was also victorious in Sire Stakes action.

As the gate sprung Bouchard hustled Pembroke Firestone toward the front-end but the filly didn’t make the top until just past the quarter pole. From the half on she was challenged by race favorite, Porque (Jeff Gregory) but surprisingly the daughter of Malabar Man-Spring Laughter rebuffed the confrontation and went on to a one-length victory in 2:02.1.

Porque faded in the stretch and finished third. Second money went to Contag Way, who was driven by John Stark, Jr.

Eddie Hart trains Pembroke Firestorm for businessman and amateur driver Bill Varney.

Howie Okusko, Jr. tuned-up She’s So Savvy for the $175,000 NYSS Final on September 26 with an easy 1:59.4 triumph over Allie Jay (Jeff Gregory) in the non-betting division. The Ice Queen (Jimmy Morrill, Jr.) finished third albeit 15-lengths behind the winner.

Jessica Okusko trains the Malabar Man-Twitty filly for the Purple Haze Stable.