Delaware County Fair: Caviart Ally crowned 2017 Jugette champion

She didn't get to cut the mile like in her elimination victory, but a two-hole trip worked just as well for Caviart Ally in the $163,950 Jugette final for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday at the Delaware County Fair as she got past pace-setter Blazing Britches in the stretch to win in 1:51 3/5.

Blazing Britches got the coveted rail draw for the final, and driver Trace Tetrick fired the public choice straight through, with Caviart Ally (Andrew McCarthy) landing in the pocket. After making the lead Blazing Britches would click off the first quarter in 27 3/5 and the half in 55 4/5, with all the fillies in behind her content with their positions and the pace.

Tequila Monday (David Miller) would commit first-up out of fourth as they raced out of the third turn, and that was McCarthy's cue to hoist Caviart Ally out of the pocket in the backstretch. Blazing Britches still had control, though, hitting the three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 and looking to seal the deal from there.

Caviart Ally would advance on the rim on the final turn, getting stride-for-stride with Blazing Britches turning for home, and in the lane Caviart Ally got her measure, prevailing by about a half a length on the wire. Blazing Britches had to settle for second, with Obvious Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) and Tequila Monday rounding out the top four.

This victory completed a perfect day for McCarthy and trainer Noel Daley as they also won Caviart Ally's Jugette elimination in addition to the Buckette for 3-year-old trotting fillies with Cool Cates. After the race, McCarthy explained that while he would have obviously loved to be on the lead again, the circumstances didn't work out that way.

"I saw (Trace Tetrick) timed the gate pretty good, and I didn't have any shot of getting around him," McCarthy said. "I kind of looked up coming out of that third turn, and he had the whip up and she looked a little of lazy on him. I wasn't sure how much pace he had, so I decided to take a shot and race him and it worked out. The draw definitely helped, we were up close. He got a pretty easy first quarter, but then he started stepping on the gas a little bit. The tempo really suited me anyway."

Daley, who scored his first win in the Jugette, trains the victorious daughter of Bettor's Delight for owner Caviart Farms. This was her fifth win of the year, her seventh win lifetime, and she has now earned over $500,000 in her career. Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Caviart Ally paid $5.60 to win.

"Coming first-over, that was great she was able to do it," Daley stated. "We were going to try and take the lead, but that didn't work. She's got as much speed as them, but up until now she hasn't had as much bottom as a couple of them. We added Lasix there a couple starts ago, and that seems to have done the trick."