Saratoga Harness: Pellings pocket a pair of NY Sire Stakes wins

The father-son tandem of trainer Brett Pelling and driver Jack Pelling won two of the three New York Sire Stakes flights for 3-year-old pacing fillies that were featured on Saturday evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel with Earthwindfire and Southwind Bella. Turn On The Charm, who also tallied in the opening leg of the series at Buffalo Raceway, took the remaining split.

Racing in the second $56,000 division, Earthwindfire landed in third while Hunting Season (Mark MacDonald) took command going to the 28 second opening quarter and then maintained control through the half in just 58 seconds. Pelling would put Earthwindfire in motion first-over passing that station, and Earthwindfire advanced to battle with Hunting Season on the way to the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters.

On the final bend, Earthwindfire took the top spot on the rim, and she was able to put Hunting Season away for good turning for home. From there, Earthwindfire pulled away to score by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:53 3/5, with Rock My Socks (Wally Hennessey) up for second over a fading Hunting Season.

By American Ideal and bred by Stephen Dey, Earthwindfire is owned by Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing. The half-sister to Cattlewash and Niki Hill has a record of 6-4-0 from 12 starts, pushed her earnings to $349,484 and paid $2.90 to win as the 2-5 favorite.

Southwind Bella took to the track in the final $55,000 grouping, and she got away second from the pole position but brushed by Linemup Knockmback (Jim Morrill Jr.) past the 27 1/5 quarter. After landing on the point, Southwind Bella went on to click off a 57 1/5 half and a 1:26 2/5 three-quarters before she used a 28 second final kicker to seal the three length victory in a 1:54 2/5 performance. Linemup Knockmback was next, followed by Dame (Marcus Miller).

A daughter of Huntsville bred by Southwind Farms, Southwind Bella, who is owned by Thaddeus Wier, has five wins, two seconds, and a third from nine trips behind the gate, has pocketed $65,703 and returned $2.70 to win as the favorite.

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Back in the opening $56,000 section, Turn On The Charm (M. Miller) pulled out of the pocket racing to the 28 second opening quarter, cleared True Blue Hanover (Hennessey) after that marker, and then backed down the middle-half to just 58 3/5 and 1:28 1/5. The sprint was on to the wire in the last quarter, and Turn On The Charm's 28 1/5 panel got her to the finish line half a length ahead of True Blue Hanover in 1:56 2/5. B On The Hunt (Beckwith) grabbed third.

Another Huntsville filly, Turn On The Charm is trained by Bruce Clarke for owners/breeders Megan Beachamp and John Coffey. Turn On The Charm made her sixth appearance in the winner's circle, sent her bankroll to $129,265, and paid $2.30 to win as the 1-9 choice.