Crashing Connie wins fourth straight in Niagara Stakes

Crashing Connie won a nose decision over New Girl in Town following a long stretch battle to become the first four-time winner of the Finger Lakes meet in the $50,000 Niagara on Monday.

Crashing Connie was 0 for 2 last season, but following a winter vacation is unbeaten at the current meet. She won a statebred maiden race in April and two open allowance races prior to making her stakes debut in the Niagara.

Owned and bred by Joseph Gentile and trained by James Wright, she paid $10.20 in the eight-horse field of New York-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Longshot Morgan's Z Va went to the early lead over a sealed and sloppy track in the six-furlong sprint. Crashing Connie moved up inside of her to gain the lead nearing the far turn. She was joined from the outside by New Girl in Town midway on the bend and the pair pulled away from the field with Crashing Connie winning a close decision under jockey Emanuel De Diego.

Crashing Connie was timed in 1:12.64.

Indy's Lady, the narrow 2-1 favorite over her Jeremiah Englehart-trained stablemate I Still Miss You, finished third, four lengths behind New Girl in Town. It was another length back to I Still Miss You in fourth, who bested My Last Million by a nose.

Indy's Lady, I Still Miss You, and My Last Million had trouble getting away from the gate.

Indy's Lady broke outward from post 8 and dropped well behind the field early. She made a strong three-wide move on the far turn but had too much work to do and never threatened the top pair.

I Still Miss You bumped with My Last Million at the start and was last away from the gate. She moved up between horses on the backstretch to reach a contending position but lacked the needed response thereafter.

My Last Million had a slightly better start than I Still Miss You and then saved ground throughout from post 1.