by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Four divisions of freshman trotting fillies raced for a total purse in excess of $146,000 in New York Sire Stakes action at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16. Each division went for approximately $36,000.

Most impressive was Munis Blue Chip, who coasted home an easy winner in 2:02.1, defeating Tuesdays With Mom. Other winners included Southwind Samurai, Sweetspellosuccess and R Moni Girl.

In Munis Blue Chip’s division, driver Ray Schnittker was content to let Jeff Gregory and Tuesdays With Mom cut the early fractions. Gregory’s filly was riding a four-race win skein and she appeared to have things her own way, that is, until Schnittker came calling with his big strapping daughter of Credit Winner-Hustle N Muscle.

Munis Blue Chip ranged alongside Tuesdays With Mom as they approached the three-quarters and it appeared she was going to trot by Tuesdays With Mom. And that’s just what Munis Blue Chip did. As they passed the three-quarter pole in 1:32.2 Munis Blue Chip had her head in front and though the two fillies raced side by side around the final turn, in the stretch Schnittker’s filly put an end to Tuesdays With Mom’s win streak and went on to a one length triumph in a time of 2:02.1. Upside Blue Chip finished third for Phil Fluet.

“A lot of the other fillies are getting tired now and my filly is just starting to come around,” Schnittker said of Munis Blue Chip. “I believe she’ll be tough to beat in the final (NYSS Final at Vernon Downs on Sept. 26).”

It was the fourth win in eight starts for Munis Blue Chip who is owned by Schnittker in partnership with Steve Arnold, Blue Chip Bloodstock and Jerry Silva.

Pat Berry made his trip to the Mighty M a winning one when he guided Southwind Samurai to a 2:04.4 victory over Miss Conway and Dan Daley. Viva Las Lindy finished third for Howard Parker.

However after the first turn Berry had a precarious ride because Southwind Samurai lost her right front shoe — and a bar-shoe at that.

“She (Southwind Samurai) was OK most of the mile but in the stretch when she was getting tired I thought I was going to lose her,” Berry said referring to the distinct possibility that Southwind Samurai might go off-stride. “I steadied her and she made it to the finish without breaking.”

The winner, a daughter of Conway Hall-Southwind Seasons, is owned in Italy by Scuderia S Giuliano.

A third division saw the Credit Winner filly out of Spellbound Hanover, Sweetspellosuccess, cruise to victory for Trond Smedshammer.

After racing unchallenged to the three-quarters in a pedestrian 1:35, Smedshammer urged his filly and Sweetspellosuccess responded with a :30 second final panel to trot away from her company and score a five length, 2:05 victory over Secret Credit and driver Brian Mattison. Third place, one length farther back, was Ava De Vie and Oyvin Hegdal.

Smedshammer got away with easy fractions mostly because the 1-5 favorite Windemerealfiredup took to running in the first turn.

It was the third victory in six starts for Sweetspellosuccess, who is owned by AM Viking Stable, Ted Gerwertz, Robert Feldman and Rojan Stables.

It was bombs away in the final NYSS division when Donald Jacobs and R Moni Girl upset the favorites at odds of over 47-1 and returned a whopping $95.50 win mutuel in the six-horse field.

When even-money shot Glidemyway went off-stride behind the starting gate Trond Smedshammer and second choice Reena assumed command. They trotted unchallenged through fractions of :31.2, 1:03.2 and 1:36.1 until the field ganged up on the leader as they entered the final turn.

When they straightened for home Reena had the lead but Jacobs and R Moni Girl not only came calling on the far outside but the daughter of Malabar Man-Queen Ann’s Dance trotted by her and the entire field to score a one length triumph in a time of 2:06.4. Reena was second and Opaline took home the show dough for Jimmy Marohn, Jr.

“With the late scratch of the morning line favorite (Connie) and a break by (the favored) Glidemyway the slow fractions worked to my advantage,” a smiling Jacobs said in the winner’s circle after his victory with R Moni Girl. “I am really happy the way things turned out today.”