To view the stakes-record performance by Joviality S, click here.

East Rutherford, NJ — Joviality S reasserted her authority off her Breeders Crown victory to win the $479,450 Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old trotting fillies, posting a stakes-record mile of 1:52.1 on Saturday night (Nov. 20) at The Meadowlands.

Joviality S and driver Brian Sears come from behind to post a stakes-record win in the Goldsmith Maid on Saturday night (Nov. 20) at the Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.

Valentina Blu (Andrew McCarthy) grabbed the front from post 10 as Joviality S jetted off the car for the front to the first turn. Approaching a :27.3 first quarter, driver Brian Sears vacated the pocket to circle Valentina Blue for the lead as 2-5 favorite Venerable loomed two-wide up the backside with Misswalner Fashion (Tim Tetrick) in tow. Joviality S (Brian Sears) yielded control to Venerable, who then yielded to Misswalner Fashion, heading to a :56.3 half.

Joviality S (Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S) was placed well as Misswalner Fashion cruised with Venerable readying a charge to three-quarters in 1:24.1. As they dueled, Joviality S came off the pylons and hit her best stride, easily passing her foes with a surge that ended in the stakes-record and lifetime-best 1:52.1 victory by a length. Venerable got by Misswalner Fashion for second and Valentina Blue finished fourth.

Marcus Melander trains Joviality S. “She’s been a fabulous filly from day one,” he said. “It’s been a long season and she performed like this at the end of November. It just shows, especially coming out of the Breeders Crown from the 10 hole and with [the wet] weather that night how sound she is after this season. I think it’s amazing.”

Courant Inc owns Joviality S, who paid $7 to win. Her earnings now peak at $895,340, pumped by nine wins this season.

“I’m very happy with our relationship with Brian [Sears],” Melander said. “He drives a lot of our horses, he takes care of them like they’re his own and I’m very happy about that.”