Tioga: Sophomore trotting fillies contest two New York Sire Stakes dashes

Quincy Blue Chip and Stella Jane finished first in a pair of $57,600 New York Sire Stakes races for 3-year-old filly trotters that took place at Tioga Downs.

In the first division Quincy Blue Chip, this year's Empire Breeders Classic winner, was coming in off two defeats, but got back on the right track with a 1:53 2/5 score, a new lifetime mark.

Driven by Jim Morrill Jr., she released Amal Hall (Andy Miller) at the 28 second opening quarter, then re-moved to the front, reaching the half in 57 and the three-quarters in 1:24 4/5. Quincy Blue Chip was tested in the backstretch, around the far turn, and in the lane by a first-over Winndevie (Jason Bartlett), but she held off the advance, winning by half a length. Amal Hall wound up third.

"She felt great the whole way today. She got run into at Goshen, it doesn't show it in the program, and the week before at Buffalo she was a little sick; other than that she's been flawless all year," said Morrill Jr. "She always gives 100 percent; she's never, ever not tried for me. She's just a pleasure to drive."

A daughter of Chapter Seven, Quincy Blue Chip is trained by Gareth Dowse for owner/breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. This was her ninth career win, and she has now earned $397,083. The 6-5 favorite, she paid $4.40 to win.

Stella Jane, last year's Kindergarten Classic Series champion, hadn't won in five appearances so far in 2019, but changed that with a 1:55 3/5 score in the other grouping.

With Bartlett in the bike, she sat in the pocket behind With Out A Doubt (Marcus Miller) through fractions of 28 3/5, 58 4/5, and 1:27 2/5, edged out two-wide about midway through the last turn, and rallied by the pace-setter in the lane to win by a length and three-quarters. With Out A Doubt was the second-place finisher, with Gobi Princess (A. Miller) third.

A filly by Crazed, she is trained by John Butenschoen for owner/breeder Crawford Farms. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now put away $241,225. The 2-1 second choice, she returned $6.00 to win.