Goshen, NY — Six horses took new lifetime marks in winning their respective $25,000 New York County Fair Finals on Sunday (Sept. 6) at Goshen Historic Track, with trainer Jim Rothfuss accounting for a pair of winners.
Rothfuss, the only conditioner to capture multiple finals, teamed up with driver Wade Tomaszewski to capture the 2-year-old male trot with Atomic Promise and the 3-year-old filly trot with Met’s Tour.
Atomic Promise, now a five-time winner from nine career starts, controlled splits of :31.1, 1:04.2 and 1:34.4 before using :29 stretch speed to defeat Yippee Ki Yay by 3-1/2 lengths in a career best 2:03.4. The Met’s Hall-Promising Diva colt has now earned $32,715 for Rothfuss, who shares ownership with Lowerys Stable.
Met’s Tour, who entered the Fair Finals with a single win from 16 starts this season, saved ground in midfield before lifting out of traffic in the final 100 yards to nab pacesetter Divine Melody in 2:00.2, two seconds faster than her previous best. The Met’s Hall-Tourin The Town filly has now earned $41,719 in her career for Out In The Country Stable, Daniel Tybor Jr., and Rothfuss.
Kyle Cummings joined Tomaszewski in posting a driving double, winning with 2-year-old trotting filly Double Stack in 2:06 for trainer Margaret Butler and 2-year-old pacing filly Ashlee’s Choice in 1:58.2 for trainer Robert Anderson.
Brave Warrior’s 1:56.1 victory in the 3-year-old male pace was the fastest mile on the day. Jim Devaux drove the Courtly Choice-Amazing Control gelding to his 13th career win from 19 starts for trainer Benny Eggers, who shares ownership with Mary Abbot.
The other divisional winners were 2-year-old pacing colt Chief Hunt, a son of Huntsville-Wanabe American who won in 2:00.3, 5-1/5 seconds better than his previous best, for trainer/driver Dylan Huckabone-Miller; and 3-year-old trotting gelding Harry’s Boy, a son of Met’s Hall-Ms Paige who won in 2:01.2, 1-3/5 seconds faster than his previous mark, for driver Todd Cummings and trainer Tammy Cummings.
The 3-year-old filly pace was declared no contest after track maintenance equipment caused interference to the entire field at the top of the homestretch. All horses and drivers returned to the paddock safely, and the purse was split evenly among all participants.