Monticello: New York Sire Stakes featured on Monday's program
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Three-year-old pacing fillies were at Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon for three New York Sire Stakes divisions.
Secret Garden (Jason Bartlett) rallied in the passing lane from the pocket and won the first $37,833 flight in 1:55. Kissin Joe (Mark MacDonald) led through fractions of 28, 57 3/5 and 1:26 2/5 and dug in gamely to the wire but came up a nostril short of victory, and B On The Hunt (Jordan Stratton) was third after a first-over try.
Noel Daley trains the winning Crawford Farms-bred daughter of Huntsville for owner Morrison Racing Stables. This was Secret Garden's second win from 13 lifetime starts, she has now pocketed $43,920 and she paid $7.80 to win as the 5-2 third choice.
In the next $38,533 split, Turn On The Charm (Marcus Miller) put up panels of 29 3/5, 58 4/5 and 1:27 3/5 and withstood a stern first-over attempt by 4-5 favorite Southwind Bella (Jack Pelling) in the last three-eighths of the mile to score by a neck in 1:55. Southwind Bella had to settle for second and Rock My Socks (Bartlett) collected third.
Another Huntsville filly, Turn On The Charm is trained by Bruce Clarke for owners/breeders Megan Beauchamp and John Coffey. Turn On The Charm made her seventh appearance in the winner's circle, sent her bankroll to $148,531, and returned $5.80 to win as the 9-5 second choice.
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The final $38,533 section saw True Blue Hanover (Bartlett) in the top spot at the 28 3/5 opening quarter, but 1-9 favorite Earthwindfire (Pelling), who left from post five, pressed on two-wide and was able to clear True Blue Hanover on the second turn. After she got control, Earthwindfire went on to the half in 57 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:27 3/5 before she used a 27 4/5 final kicker to defeat True Blue Hanover by two lengths in 1:55 2/5. Dame (M. Miller) collected third.
By American Ideal and bred by Stephen Dey, Earthwindfire is trained by Brett Pelling and is owned by Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing. The half-sister to Cattlewash and Niki Hill has a record of 7-4-0 from 12 starts, pushed her earnings to $368,750 and paid $2.10 to win.