by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — With the influx of video gaming machines at the racetracks in the state of New York, not only are purses higher than in previous years, but the breeding industry is reaping rewards as are the owners of the colts and fillies that race in the rich New York Sires Stakes program.

Case in point: the NYSS for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon, September 4.

This season the total purse for the sophomore distaff trotters was in excess of $333,000 and each of the five divisions raced for $66,783. And besides the money being better than in the past so, too, is the caliber of the competing fillies.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Masterpiece T and Mark Lewis trot to a new track record for 3-year-old fillies.

In the third division on Tuesday afternoon, the very classy Oh Oh Its Magic was sent off as the prohibitive favorite, but she ran into a buzz saw when she chased Masterpiece T. She never did catch her as the daughter of Master Of Style trotted to a new track record for sophomore trotting fillies when she tripped the timer in 1:58. Oh Oh Its Magic finished a length behind in second place. The 1:58 clocking erased the former mark of 1:58.4 set by Armbro Vanquish and driver Jimmy Takter on June 24, 2001.

Mark Lewis drove the unheralded Masterpiece T — it was only her sixth lifetime start — for proud owners Kelvin Harrison and Scott Goodman.

Impressive, too, was Freddy Monteleone’s Angie Blue Chip, especially after Jimmy Morrill, Jr. drove the daughter of Credit Winner to her seventh seasonal victory in a 1:59.3 clocking, which was her best time on a half-mile track this year. Tessel (Bill Bailey), owned by great NYSS supporters Paul and Pauline Nower, was second best, two lengths behind the winner.

Another division saw Dr. Doug Hutchins’ Cocktail Hour register her eighth seasonal victory — and fourth consecutive — when Ivan Davies guided the Credit Winner filly to an easy 1-1/2 length victory over Nowerland Lightnin and driver Bill Bailey. The victory raised Cocktail Hour’s seasonal bankroll to over $137,000, which more than offsets the $33,000 Dr. Hutchins plunked down to buy the filly at the yearling sales.

Aiken For Clay was the first of the fillies to reach the winner’s circle in NYSS action when Jimmy Morrill, Jr. drove her to a 2:00.1 victory over Chippawa Street (Ray Schnittker) in the second race on the Tuesday card. Owned by Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband, Aiken For Clay is a daughter of Conway Hall.

A fifth NYSS split saw Dude Goodblood hustle the Billy Andrews-trained Credibilty to an easy two length triumph over Lapponia and driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr. in a 2:00.2 clocking. Credibility, a daughter of Credit Winner, is Canadian owned — on Prince Edward Island — by Reggie MacPherson.

Andrews it should be noted, developed the great Moni Maker and campaigned her very successfully in the New York Sires Stakes when the world champion mare was a youngster.