Saratoga Harness: Fad Finance enters record book

Fad Finance obliterated the track record for a 3-year-old trotting filly at Saratoga Harness when she won the first of a pair of New York Sire Stakes events on Friday night in 1:54 1/5, lowering the previous standard by a second and two-fifths. Non Stick won the other division, overcoming an outside journey in the opening half.

Driven by Jim Morrill Jr., Fad Finance cleared Swinging Royalty (Jason Bartlett) for the lead past the 29 second opening quarter in the $89,850 contest, then reached the half in 57 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25 3/5. Goosebump Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) rallied at Fad Finance through the stretch, but Fad Finance proved too tough, winning by three-parts of a length. Swinging Royalty stayed on to collect third.

The previous track record at the half-mile oval was 1:55 3/5, set by Barn Doll in June of last year.

Trond Smedshammer trains Fad Finance, a daughter of Credit Winner, for owners Purple Haze Stables LLC., Marc Goldberg, and Rojan Stables. This was Fad Finance's ninth career win, and she has now earned $248,731. Sent off at 3-5, Fad Finance paid $3.20 to win.

In the other $89,950 New York Sire Stakes dash, Monarchs Sequel (Wally Hennessey) was the first leader, reaching the front quarter in 28 3/5. 3-5 favorite Non Stick (Ake Svanstedt), who had started from post six, remained on the outside, though, and made her way up and around Monarchs Sequel just past the 57 3/5 half-mile mark. 8-5 second choice Earn Your Wings (Bartlett) then pulled first-over out of third to challenge Non Stick, but the leader kept the pursuer's bid at bay to the 1:27 three-quarters, and then in the stretch Non Stick pulled clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:56. Earn Your Wings staved off Monarchs Sequel to hold second.

Svanstedt also trains and co-owns Non Stick, a Lucky Chucky filly, with Little E LLC. Non Stick has now won 11 times from 14 career attempts, and she shows a bankroll of $418,805. Non Stick returned $3.50 at the windows.