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

Saratoga Springs, NY — Juvenile filly trotters made their third stop along the New York Sire Stakes trail on Thursday (August 7) as six divisions were contested at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, with She’s So Savvy putting forth the most impressive performance of the night, winning her $36,778 split in 2:00.3.

Dave Oxford photo

She’s So Savvy trotted the fastest NYSS mile of the night when capturing her $36,778 division in 2:00.3.

Starting from post five, She’s So Savvy was driven aggressively off the gate by Howard Okusko, Jr., marching authoritatively to the front on the opening turn to take the field through splits of :29.4, 1:00.1, and 1:30.3.

After facing little pressure down the backstretch, She’s So Savvy sprinted clear of her overmatched rivals on the final bend, opening up a four length lead at the top of the stretch before coasting home unchallenged to prevail by 5-1/4 lengths at the wire.

Owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC, and trained by Jessica Okusko, the daughter of Malabar Man-Twitty is a two-time winner in three career starts, adding a Sire Stakes triumph at Monticello on July 9 to her Saratoga score.

Driver Stephane Bouchard tallied a pair of Sire Stakes victories on the Thursday program, capturing the opening $36,778 event of the evening when guiding La Marchesa through the wire first in 2:02.4 for owner Carolyn Atherton and trainer Carl Gillespie.

The daughter of Conway Hall-Mischip was never presented with a challenge while setting fractions of :30.3, 1:01.4, and 1:33.1, trotting home confidently in :29.3 to prevail by two lengths at the wire.

Bouchard employed similar tactics in the very next race, leading every step of the way with Richard Balog’s Porque, who trotted a winning mile in 2:01.1 to take her $36,778 division for trainer Linda Toscano.

The daughter of Plesac-Hornby Michelle left alertly from post one, cutting the mile in :30.2, 1:01.1, and 1:31.3, never feeling an anxious moment down the lane when opening up on her foes to post a 2-1/2 length triumph.

Gift Card made her pari-mutuel debut a memorable one when capturing her $36,778 Sire Stakes split in 2:02.3 for K R Breeding LLC, Jef Mar Acres, and Gary Hoffman.

Driven by conditioner Frank Antonacci, the daughter of Credit Winner-Mary Lou Hall tracked the early leaders from sixth place through fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2, and 1:31.3 before unleashing a late charge down the center of the track to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Dream Edition (Turbonator-Nehana) visited the winner’s circle for the first time in her career after getting up in the final yards to take her $36,778 Sire Stakes split in 2:03 for Roy Dobbins, trainer Andrew Byler, and driver Jim Devaux.

Domenico Costagliola’s Big Sky Angelina (Malabar Man-Big Sky Angel) captured the final $36,778 Sire Stakes event of the night when closing determinedly down the lane to prevail in 2:04.2 for conditioner Allie Reynolds and driver Donald Dancer.