Delaware County Fair: Party Girl Hill breathtaking again in Jugette elim, final

Wednesday's Jugette for sophomore pacing fillies at the Delaware County Fair turned into the "Party Girl Hill Show," co-starring stablemate New Year, along with trainer Chris Ryder and driver Dexter Dunn. Party Girl Hill, piloted by Dunn, won her $47,545 elimination in a world record 1:49 3/5, came back to win the $142,635 final with devastating ease in 1:50 3/5, and was followed home in the final by New Year, who won her elimination in 1:52 with Dunn in the bike.

As impressive as her effort was in the final, Party Girl Hill's elimination was probably even better. She got away in third, and much like in the Adioo Volo at The Meadows back on August 1 at The Meadows, had to do the hard work from first-over against a well-rated Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick). Lyons Sentinel got a 56 2/5 half that day and a 56 second half today, but it didn't matter in either case. In Wednesday's event, Party Girl Hill moved up on Lyons Sentinel's outside, advanced menacingly into second at the 1:23 three-quarters, sat outside Lyons Sentinel around the final bend, and went by in the lane, prevailing by three-parts of a length and lowering the world record for a 3-year-old pacing filly on a half-mile track from 1:50 1/5 to 1:49 3/5.

In the final, Joe Bongiorno picked up the drive on New Year, who had led all the way from the pole position and won her elimination over Peaky Sneaky (Scott Zeron) and Blazin Grace (David Miller), and he fired her out from post two, forcing Lyons Sentinel and Tetrick to back into the pocket in front of Party Girl Hill, who got away in third from post one. As soon as the tussle between New Year and Lyons Sentinel ended, Dunn brought Party Girl Hill off the cones, and she made her way into the top spot after the 27 second opening fraction.

After landing on the front, Party Girl Hill went on to the half in 55 4/5, with Peaky Sneaky and Zeron going out on the attack first-over from fourth prior to that point. Peaky Sneaky made some headway after pulling, getting up into second on the rim at the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, but around the last turn and through the lane, it was all Party Girl Hill. She switched into another gear the rest of the field couldn't match and drew off to win the 50th edition of the Jugette by 3 1/2 lengths with the earplugs still in, just like they were in her elimination. New Year and Peaky Sneaky had a good battle for the runner-up spot, with New Year getting that position to complete the Ryder exacta. Lyons Sentinel came in fourth, and Perfect Storm (David Miller) finished fifth.

The victory in the Jugette final was Dunn's sixth on the card, and it was one that he said he'll always treasure.

"I had a lucky day. I got to drive really nice horses, and they were all on top of their game. This girl really topped the day off well. She's just an amazing animal," remarked Dunn. "There seems to be no bottom to her. She does her work so easy, so it is truly a real pleasure to be able to sit behind her, to be lucky enough to sit behind her. I'd like to thank (owner) Tom Hill for that, for trusting me with the drive.

"This is probably a pretty special moment for my lifetime because the Ryders have been family friends with the Dunns for 50 odd years. Chris and Nicola have done a tremendous amount of work to get me over here and help me since I got here and support me. I'm sure it's a day I'll never forget."

Dunn also had high marks for where Party Girl Hill ranks on the list of best horses he's ever driven, saying, "She's definitely the best female pacer I've ever driven, that's for sure. I've been lucky enough to sit behind Bettor's Wish the last two years for Chris and the Ryder team and the barn, but she's exciting. Never raced last year, but she's done everything we wanted this year. I think it's just the manner she does it is amazing. She's gone both heats today without the plugs being pulled or really being asked. She goes on any track now, and she just does an amazing job."

Tom Hill also bred Party Girl Hill, a daughter of Captaintreacherous. She remained undefeated in her career with her two victories today, pushing her record to 11-for-11, and she also went over the $500,000 mark in seasonal earnings. She paid $2.20 to win in her elimination and the same amount in the final.

"She's an amazing horse. Many thanks to Dexter, who has done a tremendous job driving her. I wouldn't like to be in his position," stated Ryder.

Today was also Tom Hill's birthday, and it was ten years ago yesterday that his Western Silk won the Jugette. When reminded that it was a special day for Hill, Ryder said with a laugh, "I had forgotten that. That's great. Is there anything else I can do for you, Tom?"

There was a great deal of talk throughout the day how Party Girl Hill may have fared had the connections opted to face colts in the Little Brown Jug, but for Ryder, it wasn’t really an option.

"I really don't want to comment on that. We'll see what they do tomorrow. I kind of think she might, but we just didn't need to try it," he finished.

While we'll never know how she might have done in the Little Brown Jug, her two heat performance today was certainly one that will go down in the annals of Jugette lore.