Vernon, NY --- For A Dancer remained undefeated through five career starts and tied Lima Playmate at 1:57 for fastest mile of the season honors in her class, locally, during Friday night’s $119,043 New York Sires Stakes feature for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Vernon Downs.
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| Vernon Downs |
| For A Dancer remained undefeated in her still-brief but impressive career with a New York Sire Stakes victory on Friday at Vernon Downs |
With Steve Smith steering for trainer Joe Holloway and the Bluestone Farms in Friday’s sixth division, For A Dancer (Conway Hall--Fluttering Wings) wired her seven rivals to record her fourth straight states score -- three in New York Sire Stakes and W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes at Pocono Downs. The 1:57 performance tied her personal-best clocking and equaled Lima Playmate’s winning time, which occurred one race earlier, and came within one-fifth seconds of the all-time Vernon standard for her age, sex and gait, set by Seducedbychocolate on Sept. 24 last year.
Lima Playmate (Credit Winner--Pacific Legacy) led throughout her mile, before winning impressively and trimming two-fifths seconnds off the previous local season’s best clocking for this class, set by Win Missy B last Friday. Trainer Ray Schnittker, who is an ownership partner of the talented distaffer along with the Lima Playmate Stable, helped the black filly improve her lifetime summary to six stakes scores -- five in New York Sire Stakes action and one in the Tompkins-Geers Stakes at Tioga Downs -- and a third place finish in eight appearances.
Friday’s other New York Sire Stakes division winners included The Heart Lives On (RC Royalty--Cunning Vixen), in 1:57.4 for driver Jim Morrill, Jr., trainer Octavia Rappoport and owner Carolyn Meinwald; Borrow And Spend (Credit Winner--Armbro Déjà Vu), in 1:58.3 for trainer-driver and co-owner Ray Schnittker and the Borrow and Spend Stable; Adreamcomestrue AS (Conway Hall--Yankee Jeanie), in 1:58.4 for driver Marcus Johansson, trainer Anette Lorentzon and the ACL Stuteri AB group; Montana Skies (Conway Hall--Montana Maple), in 1:58.4 for Jim Morrill, Jr., trainer Trond Smedshammer, Robert Feldman and the American Viking Racing Stable; and Getinonthesecret (Conway Hall--Missy’s Mission), in 1:59 for trainer-driver Dan Daley, his wife, Ann-Mari, Richard Lombardo and Murray Ferguson, Jr.
White Jade recorded the swiftest divisional tally in Friday’s $37,200 New York Sire Stakes-sponsored late-closing contest for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Jim Morrill, Jr. did the teaming as the speedy daughter of American Ideal--Aries Conquest chopped three and one-fifth seconds off her previous win mark, and came within four-fifths seconds of the Vernon standard for this set, which was set by See You At Peelers on July 9. Erv Miller conditions the five-time current winner for the Tanah Merah Farms.
Friday’s other late-closing victories were recorded by Western Kerry (Western Terror--Kerry Kate), in 1:53.4 with Stephane Bouchard steering for trainer Ray Van Dreason and owners Jim Kennedy, Jim Kennedy, Jr. and Dave Towne; and Arlington Ave (Riverboat King--PH Factor), in 1:54.4 with Kim Crawford piloting for trainer Maureen Salino, and the De Ca Sa Stables, William Salmeri, Arthur Lucarelli and George Berkner ownership contingent.
Downs Doings: Ten of Friday’s 12 winners earned personal best records, while For A Dancer equaled her career win-mark. The performances by Adreamcomestrue AS and Getinonthesecret were maiden-breaking victories. Saturday’s 12-race card, which will include Open I and Open II challenges, will begin at 6:55 p.m., eastern. Additional information regarding the track’s 2011 season, its casino and newly renovated hotel can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com, and on Facebook.
