Batavia: Annie O, Huntsvilles Honey vanquish New York Sire Stakes adversaries

Nine Empire State-sired 2-year-old pacing fillies went postward in two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 19) night, vying for their share of the available $104,000 in purses. And both winners were sired by the state's premier pacing stallion, Huntsville.

The first $51,500 division was won by Annie O (Huntsville-Rapunzel Blue Chip), who won by as many as she wanted.

Annie O (Leon Bailey) pushed off the gate to the front and never looked back one time. After posting quarters of 29, 58 and 1:26, Annie O took her 3 1/2 length lead, rounded the bend and headed for home, where she extended that margin to 6 3/4 lengths at the line and won in 1:55 1/5.

It was the third straight win for the heavily-backed Annie O ($2.30), who is owned by Bonnie Benson and trainer Andrew Stafford. Southwind Farms bred Annie O.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Then, in the second $52,500 group, Huntsvilles Honey (Hunstville-That's Incredible) sat in behind fast early quarters before striking late to win.

Huntsvilles Honey (Matt Kakaley) dropped in third as Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) tore to the quarter in 26 3/5, with Phast Phyllis (Leon Bailey) applying the pressure through that panel. Positions then remained unchanged to the half in 57 1/5 and three-quarters in 1:26 1/5, where Huntsvilles Honey pulled and advanced towards Too Pink To Pass in the last turn. Too Pink To Pass still looked strong at the top of the lane, but Huntsvilles Honey wore her down in deep stretch while holding off the last-closing Maxina (Drew Monti) to win by a quarter-length in 1:56 3/5.

Huntsvilles Honey ($5.76) is owned by Joe Trice and trained by George Ducharme.

There were also three $20,000 NYSS Excelsior Series races on the program and these were the winners:

Memums Spitfire (Huntsville-Memumsnotnice) 2:00 2/5, $3.58

Driver-Wade Tomaszewski

Trainer-Tommy Mays

Owner-Curtis Edholm

Breeder-Cedar Knoll Farm

Spider Claire (So Surreal-Notagain) 1:58, $2.12

Driver-Matt Kakaley

Trainer-Paul Roy

Owner-Paul Roy, Ersilia Roy

Breeder-Paul Roy, Ersilia Roy

Where Is The Love (Huntsville-Itzpapalotl) 2:00 2/5, $3.58

Driver-Lauren Tritton

Trainer-Linda Toscano

Owner-Steven Held, Bill Elliott

Breeder-Knutsson Trotting

Driver Leon Bailey was on top of his game on Wednesday after winning a total of five races on the card. Aside from the already mentioned Annie O, Bailey also won with Kootenay Leia (1:54 4/5, $6.08), Cigar Night (1:59 3/5, $17.54), Bars Open (1:59 4/5, $6.84) and Initial Concept (1:58 1/5, $13.98). Bailey also added a second and three thirds from his 14 drives, giving him a stellar .468 UDR for the evening.

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5 p.m. (EDT) and will feature New York Sire Stake 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings competing for $114,900 in purses, and the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, featuring a full field of top flight Open class pacers.

--press release (Batavia)--