Tioga: Destined To Dance trots to track record in NYSS

Destined To Dance scored her fifth straight victory and is now the fastest 2-year-old filly trotter in Tioga Downs history after a 1:54 4/5 effort in the last of three New York Sire Stakes splits on Sunday afternoon. Aela Jamieson and Moni For Lindy were the other sire stakes winners on the day.

Iteration (Brian Sears) had the lead through stations of 27 2/5, 56 2/5, and 1:25 2/5 in Destined To Dance's $33,600 division, but Destined To Dance (Tyler Buter) gained ground from first-over in the third quarter and was able to sustain her bid from there, taking over the lead in the lane and holding sway to win by three-parts of a length. Soukup Blue Chip tipped out from the pocket and was second, with Iteration third.

The time of 1:54 4/5 lowered the previous track record of 1:55 1/5 for a rookie filly trotter that belonged to Plunge Blue Chip and Bill's Lady and was tied earlier in the day by Aela Jamieson.

John Butenschoen trains Destined To Dance, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for co-owner/breeder Crawford Farms and co-owners Heritage Standardbreds and Rich Preziotti. Destined To Dance, out of the Credit Winner mare Go Go Dancer (1:57 1/5, $176,488), is a half-sister to former multi-time New York Sire Stakes leg winner Heels On Wheels (Conway Hall, $180,811, 1:57). Destined To Dance, who paid $3.50 to win, is perfect in the New York Sire Stakes program, is five-for-six overall, and has put away $103,456.

Aela Jamieson (Andy Miller) got away in fourth back in the opening $34,200 section and raced in that spot through fractions of 27 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:26 4/5. Aela Jamieson was positioned second-over behind Me Three (Sears) at three-quarters, but when Me Three was able to get into the pocket on the last turn, Aela Jamieson was left uncovered. Despite that, Aela Jamieson kept going forward and caught leading Dream Chapter (Wally Hennessey) nearing the wire to win by a head in 1:55 1/5, which at the time tied the track record. Illuminata (Ake Svanstedt) was the third-place finisher.

Bred by Vito Cucci and purchased for $145,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Aela Jamieson, another filly by Chapter Seven, is trained by Julie Miller for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Dumain Haven Farm, and Little E LLC. Aela Jamieson, the second foal out of the Muscle Hill mare Blk Thai Optional (1:58, $21,695), a half-sister to Martiniontherocks (Conway Hall, 1:55 3/5, $498,658), has won in half of her four appearances, and she has now earned $36,643. Racing as part of an entry that was the second choice at 2-1, Aela Jamieson returned $6.00 to win.

The second $33,600 flight saw Insured AM (Sears) post a 28 second opening quarter and a 57 2/5 half, but Splash Blue Chip (Svanstedt) popped out of the two-hole and took the lead on the rim at the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters. Splash Blue Chip was unable to clear Insured AM, so they dueled around the far turn and into the lane, but Moni For Lindy (Scott Zeron), who watched the tussle from second-over, fanned out three-wide coming off the bend and went by both leaders in the dying strides to score in 1:55 3/5. Splash Blue Chip had to settle for second, a quarter of a length behind the winner, and Insured AM was third.

Moni For Lindy, a Credit Winner filly, is trained by Domenico Cecere for owner/breeder Moni Maker Stable. Moni For Lindy broke her maiden in her third opportunity and has now pocketed $20,832. Moni For Lindy is the eighth foal out of the unraced Conway Hall mare Live Moni and Moni For Lindy's grand-dam is the great Moni Maker. Sent off at 9-2, Moni For Lindy paid $11.20 to win.