Vernon: Joviality S headlines strong Empire Breeders Classic group

With the first jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown just a few weeks away, some of the likely contenders will see action this Friday afternoon as Vernon Downs hosts the Empire Breeders Classic in divisions for both fillies and colts. Perhaps the top-rated sophomore trotter this year would have to be the filly Joviality S, who in just two starts has exhibited blinding speed and won with relative ease on a pair of occasions.

Trainer Marcus Melander believes the Chapter Seven-sired filly may be the best filly he's trained, and the events of the next coming weeks will go a long way in proving the point.

"Right now, the plan is to race Friday and then the Yonkers Trot eliminations [June 24] if necessary," said Melander after training the filly a 2:30 trip on Tuesday (June 14).

Joviality S, who starts from post five on Friday, caught eyes for the first time this season with an effortless 1:53 2/5 victory in New York Sire Stakes action at Yonkers on May 16, but perhaps just as impressive was her 1:51 2/5 career-best mile in the May 30 leg contested at Vernon. Driver Brian Sears moved the filly before the half, and Joviality S trotted a third quarter in a blistering 26 2/5 while appearing quite comfortable.

"That surprised Brian too," said Melander of the fraction. "Maybe it was the wind at their back in the third quarter. I don't know. But he took a hold of her and she finished well within herself."

Perhaps it was that effort that convinced just six other entrants to drop in the box for the $187,500 event (race five) this Friday. Trainer Linda Toscano was one of those who did, putting Bare My Soul in the entry box.

"I messed her up last year," Toscano said frankly of the scheduling issues. "I sent her to Kentucky thinking it would be easier on her and then she ran into Venerable."

Bare My Soul did return to Vernon last year and won in 1:54 4/5, and this year she has come back strongly. On May 30, Bare My Soul took a career mark over the Vernon surface, trotting to a 1:52 1/5 mile in New York Sire Stakes action.

Bare My Soul starts from post four with Scott Zeron listed to drive.

Trainer Tony Alagna was happy with the way Valentina Blu returned this year.

"She's come back good but didn't draw that well for us," said Alagna, referring to post seven in the same field.
Nevertheless, Valentina Blu has raced with the best over her 15-race career and overcame post 10 in last year's Goldsmith Maid to finish fourth at 88-1.

Meanwhile, in the seventh race male division, Toscano is trying to play catch-up with New York Sire Stakes final champion Molotov Cocktail.

"He got injured at the end of the season," said Toscano. "We gave him plenty of time off and didn't bring him back in until February. Unfortunately, he also got sick on us when we were almost ready to race."

With the absence of racing, Molotov Cocktail has qualified twice, the second a 1:54 4/5 mile last Saturday (June 11) at the Meadowlands.

"He can get kind of lazy," said Toscano, "But when he sees another horse, he will pick up the bit."

Molotov Cocktail drew post seven with Zeron in the bike for the $187,500 Empire Breeders Classic for colts and geldings, and his trainer refused to look much past this race even though the Yonkers Trot eliminations are a week later.

"He's staked to the race. That's all I will say," Toscano said.

Given that 13 of the 15 horses entered in the combined Empire Breeders Classics are sired by Toscano's Chapter Seven, and that Chapter Seven's son Walner has already established himself as a leading sire in the sport, perhaps it's the rightful time to pay homage to Toscano and call her the "Mother of Stallions."

Slay is another son of Chapter Seven coming into the race in great shape for Tony Alagna.

"We got a late start with him last year," Alagna said. "I'm happy the way he's come back."

Slay scored a mild upset in New York Sire Stakes action at Vernon on June 10, defeating Cool Papa Bell in a 1:52 2/5 mile.

"This is a pretty strong group," Alagna said of the field of eight in which Slay will start from the two-hole with Tim Tetrick driving.

The highly-regarded Branded By Lindy (post five), multiple Sire Stakes winner Justice (post six) and the aforementioned Cool Papa Bell (post eight) add depth to the select field.

While the fillies and colts won't meet at Vernon, the likelihood is that Joviality S will be meeting a field of colts in a week when she attempts to capture the $500,000 Yonkers Trot. Though Melander doesn't want to get ahead of himself, he hasn't seen anything yet on the racetrack to convince him the filly can't best the colts.

"She was a very fast horse as a 2-year-old," said Melander. "All I could say as to the difference between last year and this year is maybe she's actually a little bit faster."

While some might be concerned racing a filly against boys, Melander referenced the efforts Joviality S has put in over the Yonkers surface as clear evidence his filly is more than capable.

"That 1:53 [2/5] mile in her first start during a driving rainstorm was impressive," Melander said.

The slick-gaited filly sprinted out in 27 4/5 and home in 27 3/5 in that May 16 sophomore debut, giving trotting purists just a taste of what is to come.

A victory on Friday would push Joviality S's career bankroll into seven figures in just her 15th career outing.

While the Yonkers Trot has always been on the schedule for Joviality S, the trainer wasn't talking yet about where the filly may be on the first Saturday in August. There's plenty of time between now and then for action on the racetrack that compels her connections to either take the safe route or go for the glory.

Post time for the nine-race card, which also features two New York Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old filly pacers, is 12:15 p.m. EDT.