Monticello: Avyanna, Tarrific prevail in New York Sire Stakes

Avyanna and Tarrific were the winners of a pair of New York Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies that headlined Monday's program at Monticello Raceway.

The first section went for a purse of $58,100 and Kissapotamus (Marcus Miller) led early on, but Peace Talks (Jason Bartlett), the 1-5 favorite, went by her to take command past that marker. Peace Talks would back down the half to 57 1/5 as Stepabovetherest (Braxten Boyd) began a first-over bid out of fourth and was tracked by Avyanna (Tyler Buter).

Stepabovetherest made steady progress on the rim towards Peace Talks racing to the 1:25 three-quarters, and then Peace Talks began to tire on the final bend, allowing Stepabovetherest to take a narrow advantage on the outside. With the top two fillies dueling, Avyanna would fan out three-wide on the turn, and Hunting Hula (Mark MacDonald) tried a four-wide attack from third-over.

Coming into the stretch Ayvanna motored into the lead, and she was able to fend off Hunting Hula to the finish line, tallying by a length and a half in 1:54 3/5. Just One Bite (Jim Marohn Jr.) advanced from sixth to third in the final quarter.

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Trained by Travis Alexander, Avyanna was bred by Michael Polansky and is owned by Hailee Currie. The daughter of Roll With Joe won for the fifth time in her career, has put away $60,984 and paid $15.20 to win as a 6-1 shot.

In the other $59,200 grouping Camerican (Jordan Stratton) cut opening-half panels of 27 3/5 and 57, but 1-9 choice Tarrific got going first-up from third past the half and forged her way to the top on the outside prior to the 1:25 three-quarters. Tarrific would clear Camerican and drop back to the pylons past that station, and from there, Tarrific went on to a 3 1/4 length triumph in 1:52 4/5, just missing the track record by a fifth of a second. She's Epic (Buter) lost Tarrific's cover but was game after being left first-over and got second over Camerican.

A Huntsville filly, Tarrific, bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, is owned by Margaret Dey and Let It Ride Stables Inc. This was her third win in her 14th lifetime start, she has now pocketed $169,149 and returned $2.30 to win.