by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Indulge Me came into the $176,000 New York Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Monticello Raceway on June 25 touted highly with great credentials and she lived up to her billing, easily winning her $44,143 division in a 1:54.3 clocking and in the process raised her seasonal earnings to over $166,000.

Geri Schwarz photo

Indulge Me easily won her $44,143 division in 1:54.3, raising her seasonal earnings to over $166,000.

Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance handled the driving chores for trainer Ed Lohmeyer as the daughter of Bettor’s Delight had little trouble defeating her seven opponents.

Lachance gunned her to the front from the five-hole and they had a comfortable three length lead at the quarter in :28.3. Indulge Me then coasted by the half in :57.2 and she was still unchallenged by the third panel which was paced in 1:26.1. In the final turn Allstar Salute, driven by Jason Bartlett who had a two-hole journey behind the leader, moved out to challenge in the final turn but when the field straightened for home Lachance asked his filly for more and she responded by opening up daylight and cruised to her third victory in five seasonal starts.

Allstar Salute held on for second money with She Rocks and Jimmy Marohn, Jr. taking home the show dough.

“This is a perfect filly to drive and a pleasure to sit behind,” Lachance said. “Whatever I ask of her she does…. …and she does it well!”

Owned by Bob and Lauren Tucker, Indulge Me, who also won her NYSS division here as a freshman, paid a paltry $2.80 for win.

However, Indulge Me wasn’t the only impressive sophomore NY-bred filly pacer to win her $44,143 division on Thursday afternoon. All Spirit, a smallish daughter of Bettor’s Delight, trained by Tim Lanpher, smoked the Mighty M double oval in an identical time of 1:54.3.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr. gave the filly a perfect drive moving her first-up when the field headed for the halfway point as pace-setter Bet On Luck and driver Jason Bartlett passed that stanza in :58.2. All Spirit slowly moved alongside Bet On Luck and as the two fillies headed for the three-quarters Marohn gave All Spirit her head and she passed Bet On Luck like a freight trains passes a hobo.

Into the final turn All Spirit had five lengths which she opened to eight at the wire. Bet On Luck held on for second while Up Front Kellie Jo (Dan Cappello, Jr.) finished third in the mile whose last half was paced in :56.4.

“She’s something else. Stop—Go, it makes no difference. You can turn her on or turn her off and she’ll just do what is asked of her,” Marohn said about All Spirit and then he added: “I haven’t seen all of her yet, either.”

Someone for the crowd yelled to Marohn that she’s (All Spirit) a small filly to which he blurted back “I’m a small guy!”

Owned by Larry Lanpher, All Spirit paid $3.70 for win.

Jordan Stratton surprised the crowd when he won the third $43,343 split with 10-1 shot Kentucky Charm in a 1:57 clocking. After following the pace-setter, Sealed In My Heart and driver Dan Daley the entire way, Stratton used the passing lane to outdo the leader and score a one length triumph over Sealed In My Heart. Favored Delightful Dancer finished third for Greg Merton.

Geri Schwarz photo

The final $44,143 split went to Eagle Way and driver Jason Bartlett in a time of 1:57.

Sam Serianni trains the winner, a daughter of Totally Western, for owners Ed Namiotka, Burton Ginter, the Slo-Down Stable and Ken Jacobs. Kentucky Charm returned a $22.20 win mutuel.

In what turned out to be the most competitive of the four NYSS divisions the final $44,143 split went to Eagle Way and driver Jason Bartlett in a time of 1:57 over Six of Hearts (Billy Dobson) and Majorette Hanover (Dan Cappello, Jr.).

Mark Ford trains the daughter of Dream Away for Frank Dettore Horse Racing LLC.