Saratoga Harness: NYSS Excelsior A Series champs crowned

The New York Sire Stakes Excelsior A Series wrapped up for this season with eight $55,000 finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits on Saturday night at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Ideal Perception (Jim Devaux) took them all the way on the lead and won the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace in 1:54 2/5 over Darbie's Ideal (Tyler Buter) and Surreal Sergeant (Mike Simons). The winner, an American Ideal-Southwind Siren colt, now has three victories. Bred by Steve Jones, Ideal Perception is trained by Tony Alagna for the ownership group of Alagnafrankinthegym Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Vj Stable, and Leblanc And Head Partners.

C And T's Credit, driven by trainer John Stark Jr., drew away in the final quarter after taking the lead from first-up and won the 2-year-old filly trot in 2:00. Lady Jeter (Dan Daley) and Concerted Hanover (Jay Randall) rounded out the trifecta. Peter Barbato and Samuel Bova own the victorious Credit Winner-Love To Flaunt filly. She is now a four-time winner and was bred by Winbak Farm.

Century Ferrari (Marcus Miller) led at every called and took the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace in a final time of 1:52 4/5. Rickybobbynthehaus (Buter) was next, followed by Surreal Art (Andy Miller). Trainer Erv Miller also co-owns Century Ferrari, a gelded son of American Ideal, with Michael Anderson, Tangie Massey, and Neil Cumsky. Century Ferrari, who was bred by Brittany Farms LLC., has four career wins, all of which have come in 2019.

Fool Me Again (Scott Zeron) completed a first-over move to the lead past three-quarters and kicked on to take the 3-year-old filly pace in 1:53 4/5 for driver Scott Zeron, co-owner/trainer Blake MacIntosh, and co-owners 30 Plus Stable and Andy Klemencic. Gia's Surreal (Jim Morrill Jr.) was the runner-up, with Ladybeluckytonite (Devaux) third. Fool Me Again, by Roll With Joe and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., made her sixth appearance in the winner's circle.

Book Seven (A. Miller) front-stepped his way to a 1:59 4/5 verdict in the rookie colt and gelding trot, besting Clear Sailing (Daley) and Bropain (Mickey McGivern). Book Seven, trained by Julie Miller for owners Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable Inc., is a Chapter Seven-Tantalizing Donna colt. This was his third straight victory and fifth overall in his freshman campaign. Book Seven was also bred by Winbak Farm.

Certify, making his first start for trainer Lance Hudson and owners William Hartt and Marc Reynolds after a private purchase, led from the pole position and took the 3-year-old male trot in 1:55 with Mark Beckwith at the lines. Entry-mates Lights Come On (M. Miller) and Labadee AS (Morrill Jr.) were second and third. Certify, who was also this year's fairs champion in New York, is a Credit Winner gelding who has won 11 races in his life. Certify was bred by Brittany Farms LLC.

Alleyesonme AS (M. Miller) took over the lead in the second quarter and never looked back, romping to a 7 1/2 length win in the 2-year-old filly pace and halting the clock in 1:54 2/5. Spreckles (Beckwith) collected second, with Twin B Salsa (Zeron) third. Trainer Anette Lorentzon also bred and co-owns Alleyesonme AS, a daughter of Heston Blue Chip-Twincreeks Jewel, with ACL Stuteri AB. Alleyesonme AS finished second in her first Excelsior A Series appearance and has now rattled off six consecutive victories.

The 3-year-old filly trot rounded out the finals, and it saw the biggest upset as 19-1 offering Hanna Dreamgirl (Frank Coppola Jr.) rallied off cover and was up in the lane to win in 1:58 3/5 over heavily-favored entry Amal Hall (A. Miller) and Ev's Girl (M. Miller). Owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by George Ducharme, Hanna Dreamgirl is a daughter of Chapter Seven who was bred by Winbak Farm. This was her eighth career victory.