Vernon Downs: Flyhawk Charm, Amber Bella, Barn Bella take New York Sire Stakes divisions

Barn Bella picked up her fourth consecutive New York Sire Stakes victory with a powerful 1:55 3/5 effort in her $36,566 division for 2-year-old filly trotters on Friday night at Vernon Downs. Also winning in New York Sire Stakes competition were Flyhawk Charm and Amber Ella.

Driven by Jeff Gregory, Barn Bella hustled quickly away from the outside post seven to grab the early lead, and she was on top at the 28 3/5 opening quarter. Maewegonow (Charlie Norris) then pulled from third to go after the lead, and she would get it right at the 58 2/5 half. It was a short-lived lead, though, as Barn Bella went right back to command on the far turn, and she would battle side-by-side with Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci) over to the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters.

Mamora Bay dropped in behind Barn Bella at the top of the stretch, and there was no further challenge as Barn Bella kicked clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths at the finish line. Mamora Bay wound up second and Maewegonow stayed on to finish third.

Trainer Steven Pratt also co-owns Barn Bella, a daughter of Conway Hall, with Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables LLC. Barn Bella, who tied the track record at Tioga Downs earlier this year, now has five wins from eight starts, and she has earned $89,311. Barn Bella is out of the SJ's Caviar mare Bravissima, a half-sister to New York Sire Stakes champion Coraggioso (Conway Hall, $677,398). Barn Bella paid $3.50 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

Back in the $35,866 New York Sire Stakes opener, Flyhawk Charm (Chris Lems) led by open lengths through fractions of 28 1/5, 57 3/5, and 1:28 1/5. In the stretch Nightflix Hanover (Ray Schnittker), the only other filly to stay on-stride through the mile, came on with a move the outside and gained a clear lead. She couldn't sustain her brush in the final sixteenth, though, and Flyhawk Charm re-rallied into the lead. From there, she would go on to beat Nightflix Hanover by three-parts of a length in 2:00 3/5. Zdenka (Matt Kakaley) was third.

Flyhawk Charm, a Deweycheatumnhowe filly, is trained by Joe Flynn, who also bred and co-owns her with Edward Flynn. Flyhawk Charm now has three victories from five trips behind the gate, and she pushed her bankroll to $56,207. Flyhawk Charm is out of the Conway Hall mare Final Time, a half-sister to Chancey Hall (Like A Prayer, $269,375), Chaplin Hall (Like A Prayer, $363,695), and Cinnabar Hall (Groton Hall, $243,282). Sent off at 6-5, Flyhawk Charm returned $4.60.

Amber Ella (John Campbell), who missed the last New York Sire Stakes event at Yonkers after a sick scratch, posted her third straight win in the remaining $36,566 test, turning a second-over trip into a 1:57 1/5 tally. She beat runner-up Heels On Wheels (Kakaley) by 2 3/4 lengths, with Sunshine Delight (Lems) up for third over Scarey Karie (Phil Fluet), who had led through splits of 28, 59, and 1:28 1/5.

Amber Ella is from the first crop of Chapter Seven, and she is trained by Linda Toscano for her Camelot Stable Inc. and Enviro Stables Ltd. Amber Ella is now three-for-four in the win column, and she has now banked $64,166. A $35,000 Standardbred Horse Sale buy, Amber Ella is out of the Mr. Lavec mare Blushed, making her a half-sister to Newcastle (Cantab Hall, $154,280). Amber Ella paid $4.10 as the even-money favorite.