Hard to Stay Notgo romps in Niagara Stakes

Hard to Stay Notgo was much the best Friday in the $50,000 Niagara Stakes at Finger Lakes, taking control of the six-furlong sprint nearing the stretch and going on to win by 7 3/4 lengths.

Hard to Stay Notgo, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, paid $3.90 and was timed in 1:11.26. The early fractions were 22.11 seconds, 45.48, and 57.94.

There were three scratches from the original 11-horse field of New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. Trainer Bruce Brown scratched both Lakeside Sunset and Fenwick Hall, and Shangala also was declared from the race.

Hard to Stay Notgo raced on the early pace inside the 12-1 shot Partytime Chill. She was eased back off Partytime Chill nearing the far turn by jockey Angel Arroyo, readily took the lead from the outside on the turn, and drew off to finish under a strong hand ride.

Hard to Stay Notgo, a homebred daughter of More Than Ready, was making her first start in three months. She now is 3 for 7 with earnings of $210,400 for owners Chester and Mary Broman. The Niagara was her second stakes win. She previously had won the Franklin Square Stakes at Aqueduct in February.

True Shot, who hopped in the air at the start and was farther back than usual early, won a four-horse photo for the place by a neck over Congaroo. It was a nose farther back to Bajan Beach in fourth.

Take Issue, the 3-1 second choice, rallied belatedly to finish fifth, a head behind Bajan Beach.

Partytime Chill tired to finish last.