Saratoga Springs, NY — The New York Sire Stakes returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel on Friday (July 28), and Royal Filly was the star of the Spa, winning a $87,000 NYSS split for sophomore fillies.

Tyler Buter and Royal Filly were the pacesetting team for the mile, clocking panels of :29, :58.2, and 1:26.4 before winning by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:55.2. Pride N Joy (Niko Kärnä) finished second and Destinys Darling (Jordan Stratton) was third.

Royal Filly was the queen of Friday’s New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga by way of a 1:55.2 front-end score. Jessica Hallett photo.

Trained by Tony Alagna for Crawford Farms Racing, the Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty daughter won her third start of the season, pushing her seasonal bankroll to $139,722. Royal Filly paid $2.50 to win as the bettors’ choice.

Canterbury Hanover took home the winner’s share of the $85,500 purse in the second NYSS split for sophomore trotting fillies with trainer Jeff Gregory in the bike.

Canterbury Hanover got away fifth, eight lengths off the leading On The House (Marcus Miller), who took the field to the quarter in :28.2. After a miscue from the leader, Jeans Action (Jim Devaux) took over to lead the field to the half in :59.2; meanwhile Woolco (Stratton) was on a first-over advance, followed by Canterbury Hanover. With Woolco leading the outer charge, the field continued split in two at the three-quarters in 1:28.2. Down the lane, it was a close battle for the win, and it came down to Woolco and Canterbury Hanover. Canterbury Hanover prevailed by a nose in 1:57.2. Woolco was second and Jeans Action was fourth-placed-third.

Jesmeral Stable co-owns the sophomore Chapter Seven-Charmed Life filly with Let It Ride Stables Inc. It was the second win of the season and fourth career victory for Canterbury Hanover, who paid $3.20 to win.

Three $20,000 NYSS Excelsior divisions featured wins by Eee Z Wow ($8.70), driven to victory in 1:58.1 by Tyler Buter for trainer Rob Harmon; Seven Bridges Road ($36.40), steered by John Stark Jr. to a 1:58.4 win for trainer Maureen Salino; and George Ducharme trainee Serendipity ($2.50), driven by Marcus Miller to victory in 1:58.

Duckdodgendive won the $18,200 Winners Over/Open Handicap for trainer and owner Laurie Tranowicz.

Wally Hennessey and Duckdodgendive were parked to the quarter in :27.4 before assuming command of the field of nine. Once at the helm, the pair continued through panels of :57.4 and 1:26.4 with a last quarter of :28.4 en route to a 2-1/2-length achievement in 1:55.3. Yucatan Party Man (Billy Dobson) finished second with Grinder (Devaux) third.

Duckdodgendive is a five-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe gelding who collected his fifth win of the season and 20th career victory, moving his career tally to $162,414.

Hennessey piloted a total of five horses to victory on the evening card including All The Truth ($6.10) in 1:56.4 and Creditized ($4.40) in 2:01.1 for Brett Derue; A Million Chuckles ($7.60) in 2:00 for Eric Mollor; and Circuit Party ($22.80) in 1:56 for Dan Cappello Jr.

Racing at Saratoga Casino Hotel resumes on Saturday (July 29) evening with 13 races on tap and a first post of 6:45 p.m.