Monticello: Two-year-old trotting fillies begin their New York Sire Stakes season

Rookie trotting fillies, many of them making their first starts, headed to Monticello Raceway to compete in four New York Sire Stakes contests on Monday afternoon.

In the first $26,750 group Hot Chapter (Andy Miller) was the 1-5 favorite, and she was up to grab the lead at the 31 2/5 opening quarter. She would go on to reach the half in 1:02 and the three-quarters in 1:32 3/5, but driver Charlie Norris had 10-1 shot Just Priceless out and moving first-up from fourth at three-quarters. She would join Hot Chapter on the final bend, then overhaul her turning for home, opening up from there to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:02 4/5. Liquorstoreblues (Jason Bartlett) came on to get second ahead of Hot Chapter.

Just Priceless, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, is trained by Homer Hochstetler for owners Connie Hochstetler and South Of The Tracks Racing Inc. A $15,000 buy at the Standardbred Horse Sale, Just Priceless broke her maiden at first asking off two winning qualifiers at Vernon Downs.

Bred by Robert and Lynn Brooks, Just Priceless is the first foal out of the Justice Hall mare Canadian Justice (1:54 2/5, $173,930), a full sister to Justice Jet (1:53 1/5, $530,346). She returned $23.40 to win.

Miller made amends in the second $27,250 division with 9-5 second choice Amal Hall. She settled third from post two through stations of 30 2/5, 1:01 1/5, and 1:31 4/5, and edged off the cones entering the last turn. She would gain steadily on the rim, then out-finished leader Sensibility (Scott Zeron), winning by three-quarters of a length in 2:02. Conway Kellyanne (Norris) came in third.

Julie Miller trains Amal Hall, a filly by Conway Hall, for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Gty Stable, and Dumain Haven Farm. Purchased for $40,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Amal Hall was making her first pari-mutuel start after finishing second in both of her qualifiers at Gaitway Farms in New Jersey.

Bred by Walnut Hall Limited, Amal Hall is the fourth foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Arabella Hall ($8,945, 2:01), a half-sister to Arch Madness (Balanced Image, 1:50 2/5, $4,288,981). She paid $5.80 to win.

The third $27,250 section saw With Out A Doubt (Marcus Miller) touch down on the lead at the 31 1/5 first quarter, and then she would give the cold shoulder to first-over challenger Somermusic`chapter (Dan Daley) to the 1:02 3/5 half. Somermusic`chapter dropped into the pocket behind With Out A Doubt going to the 1:33 three-quarters, but then the leader jumped it off on the far turn, handing the lead to Somermusic`chapter as they entered the lane.

Somermusic`chapter opened up a gap on the field in upper stretch, but 8-1 offering Exotic Diamond (Scott Zeron), who had been fourth and about eight lengths back at three-quarters, came with a late rush on the far outside, and she would get up to prevail by a head in 2:05 3/5. Water Lily Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) was the third-place finisher.

The victorious daughter of RC Royalty is trained by Buzzy Sholty for owners Joseph Lee, Diamond Pride LLC., and Sholty Racing LLC. Lee is the assistant equipment manager for the New York Yankees and a frequent competitor in amateur driving events, and Diamond Pride LLC. is the nom de course of former Yankees manager and current Major League Baseball executive Joe Torre.

Exotic Diamond, a $6,500 acquisition at the Goshen Yearling Sale, was bred by Winbak Farm and was making her career debut off a single qualifier at Monticello on June 19. She is the eighth foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Not A Diva, a half-sister to CR Kay Suzie (Royal Troubador, 1:52 3/5, $1,611,131) and CR Renegade (Royal Troubador, 1:53 4/5, $903,785). She returned $18.00 to win.

Winndevie (Trond Smedshammer) completed the victors for the day, taking the final $26,750 flight in 2:02 3/5 at odds of 5-1. She moved from the pocket to the top passing the 31 3/5 opening quarter, and after middle-half panels of 1:03 1/5 and 1:33 4/5, she pulled away to defeat Safe Word (Jeff Gregory) by 2 3/4 lengths. Hanna Dreamgirl (Tim Tetrick) finished in the third spot.

Purple Haze Stables LLC. own Winndevie, a Credit Winner filly. She was making her initial appearance in a pari-mutuel event after finishing fifth in her lone qualifier at the Meadowlands on June 16.

Winndevie was bred by Joie De Vie Farm LLC. and was acquired for $45,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. She is the first foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Vida De Vie (1:57 2/5, $140,206). She paid $13.60 to win.