Yonkers: Earthwindfire, Hunting Season victorious in NYSS for rookie pacing fillies

Two-year-old pacing fillies duked it out in New York Sire Stakes contests on Tuesday night (August 2) at Yonkers Raceway, and Earthwindfire and Hunting Season would win the pair of $75,900 top-level splits.

Vivians Dream (Jordan Stratton) came into the first division with a four-for-four record and led through fractions of 27 3/5, 57 1/5 and 1:26 3/5, but Earthwindfire (Jack Pelling) vacated the pocket in the last turn, rallied in the lane, and was able to get by Vivians Dream in time to win by a neck in 1:54, a lifetime-best clocking. Alabama Hannah (Jason Bartlett) was the third-place finisher.

Earthwindfire is an American Ideal filly trained by Brett Pelling for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Tulip Racing. A $100,000 purchase at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Earthwindfire has two wins and a second in three outings and has now banked $78,075. She paid $4.40 to win as the second choice and was atop a $5.50 exacta and a $12.40 trifecta. Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, Earthwindfire is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Road Bet [1:52, $380,315], making Earthwindfire a half-sister to Cattlewash [1:46 4/5, $1,314,787] and to Niki Hill [1:50 2/5, $904,556].

In the second flight Hunting Season (Mark MacDonald) went to the top from the pole position and hit the quarter in 27 4/5, the half in 57 4/5, and the three-quarters in 1:27. Rock My Socks (Bartlett) advanced first-over out of fourth in the third quarter but stalled out in second and then was no match for Hunting Season in the stretch, as the pace-setter pulled away to prevail by a length and a half in a career-best 1:55. Rock My Socks came home as the runner-up and pocket-sitter Dame (Luke Hanners) got third.

A daughter of Huntsville-That's How We Roll, Hunting Season was bred and is owned by trainer Ray Schnittker in partnership with Mary Kinsey-Arnold and Steven Arnold. Hunting Season picked up her third victory in her sixth start, and she has now earned $97,890. She returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite and keyed a $5.00 exacta and an $11.40 trifecta.

Jordan Stratton drove two of the four winners in $15,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series action. Stratton tallied with B On The Hunt, a daughter of Huntsville-Twin B Elite bred by Kathryn Weed & M.K. Weed, trained by his brother Cory, and owned by Our Three Sons Stable LLC. and Stratton Stable Inc. in 1:56 3/5, and with Doing Marvelous, a Bolt The Duer-Marvalous Joy filly bred by Winbak Farm, owned by Frank Chick, and trained by Cory Mumford in 1:56 1/5.

Lady Jericho, a daughter of Dude's The Man-Taylorlane Diva bred by Gary Smith, owned by Jennifer Safford, and trained by John Berger, won the first New York Excelsior "A" section in 1:55 3/5 with Austin Siegelman driving, and Rec Time, a Huntsville-Ms Malicious filly bred by Fair Winds Farm, Mark Mullen, and Steve Jones, owned by D Racing Stable Inc. and Jason O'Sullivan, and trained by Deborah Daguet, completed the New York Excelsior "A" Series winners with a 1:55 1/5 mile for driver Jason Bartlett.

One non-wagering $6,700 New York Excelsior "B" Series race also took place, and Cannery Row, a daughter of American Ideal-My Monterey bred and owned by Crawford Farms, tallied in 1:57 1/5 for Bartlett and trainer Tony Alagna.

Yonkers will welcome the New York Sire Stakes circuit back to Westchester next Tuesday night (August 9) as the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings will compete in their sixth out of seven preliminary rounds.

Live racing at Yonkers is currently being held on a Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday schedule with post time at 6:55 p.m.

--press release (Yonkers)--