Tioga: Joviality S turns in track record mile in NYSS victory

Joviality S got ready for next week's New York Sire Stakes final by winning a $129,100 NYSS dash for sophomore trotting fillies on Saturday night at Tioga Downs (the same venue where the finals will take place) in a track record clocking of 1:51 3/5.

Driver Brian Sears put Joviality S in the fifth position from post seven as Pure Countess (Wally Hennessey) blasted out from post two and hit the opening quarter in 27 seconds. Sears then sent Joviality S two-wide before the half of 56 seconds, set by Cash Infusion (Tyler Buter) went on the board, and would pick up cover past that marker as Valentina Blu (Joe Bongiorno) moved off the cones from third.

Valentina Blu worked her way by Cash Infusion on the outside racing to the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters and would continue to show the way on the rim around the last turn and into the stretch, but Sears would feed Joviality S clear racetrack in the lane, and although Valentina Blu was very game and responded when called upon by Bongiorno, Joviality S wore her down and won by a length. She's A Scorcher (Jim Taggart Jr.) finished third.

The time of 1:51 3/5 bettered the previous standard for a sophomore trotting filly of 1:52 1/5 set by the great Atlanta back in 2018.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Marcus Melander trains Joviality S, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owner Courant Inc., whose AM Bloodstock Inc. bred the filly. Joviality S has a record of 17-3-1 from 22 lifetime tries, and has now banked $1,681,368. She paid $2.30 to win as the 1-9 favorite.