Morrill sweeps Sire Stakes at Saratoga

by Michael Costanzo, racing development & simulcast manager, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — Driver Jim Morrill, Jr. made the most of his trip to Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Saturday, August 30, piloting six winners on the 13-race card, including a clean sweep of the four New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Dave Oxford photo

Stolly Blue Chip paced the fastest Sire Stakes mile of the night at Saratoga Raceway, prevailing in 1:57.1 for driver Jim Morrill, Jr.

Morrill tallied the fastest Sire Stakes win of the evening with Stolly Up Bluechip, guiding that filly through the wire first in 1:57.1 to take her $53,252 split for owner Frank Dettore and trainer Mark Ford.

Driven from post three, Stolly Up Bluechip was parked in third place through an opening quarter in :28.2, but cleared the front to cut middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:28 before coming home in :29.1 to post a two length victory.

The daughter of Art Major-Stasia’s Girl has prevailed in five of seven starts, including successive Sire Stakes scores at Monticello Raceway and Vernon Downs in July.

Earlier on the Saturday program, Morrill teamed up with Ford and Dettore to score his first Sire Stakes victory of the night, getting up in the final yards to take a $53,252 division with Eagle Way in 1:57.4.

Starting from post two, Eagle Way sat a perfect pocket trip through splits of :29, 1:00.1, and 1:29.2, angling off the pylons in mid-stretch to reach the front in the shadow of the wire and prevail by a neck.

The victory was the fourth in six starts for the daughter of Dream Away-Western Dancer, who has also prevailed in Sire Stakes events at Yonkers Raceway and Vernon Downs.

Morrill returned to the Sire Stakes winner’s circle for the third time after providing the winning drive behind Indulge Me, who paced a winning mile in 1:57.2 to take her $53,252 division for Robert and Lauren Tucker and conditioner Ed Lohmeyer.

The daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Summer Child has prevailed three times during her young career, with each of her triumphs coming in Sire Stakes races, scoring victories at Monticello Raceway and Tioga Downs prior to her Saratoga win.

B Intensified overcame a sluggish start to complete the Sire Stakes grand slam for Morrill, covering the mile in 1:57.3 to capture the final $54,252 split of the evening for D’Elegance Stable, Carmen Iannacone, and T L P Stable, and trainer Carmine Fusco.

After getting away in fifth place, B Intensified charged to the front while parked through an opening quarter in :28, cutting middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:28 before coming home in :29.3 to prevail by 1-1/2 lengths.

The daughter of Art Major-B Electrified has now gotten her picture taken in each of her last five starts, sweeping through Sire Stakes events at Yonkers, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, and Monticello.

Morrill also scored Saturday victories with My T Bunny and Keystone Rideau.

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