Saratoga Harness: R Melina blows away New York Sire Stakes foes

R Melina, coming off a fifth-place result in the Hambletonian Oaks earlier this month, picked up the lion's share of a big $168,000 purse in a New York Sire Stakes contest for 3-year-old filly trotters on Friday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Driver Tyler Buter floated out with R Melina from post four and was two-wide until after the 27 3/5 quarter to wrestle the top spot away from Sister Mary Maude (Brett Beckwith). Once R Melina had control she didn't relinquish it, trotting through a 56 2/5 half and a 1:25 4/5 three-quarters before closing in 28 2/5 to win by two lengths over Sister Mary Maude. Sadbirdstillsing (Jason Bartlett) tried a first-over move out of third past the half but stalled out in a joint second coming to three-quarters and had to settle for the show dough.

The final time of 1:54 1/5 missed Quincy Blue Chip's track record for the group by just a fifth of a second.

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A daughter of Chapter Seven, R Melina was bred by Marsh Valley Standardbreds and is owned by M And L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates LLC. R Melina has 13 wins, two seconds and two thirds in 22 appearances, has pocketed $714,514 and returned $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.