Monticello, NY — Freedomformysoul established a new Monticello Raceway track record for freshman pacing colts when Jimmy Morrill Jr. drove the son of If I Can Dream-Hello Grin to a 1:55.2 triumph in their Monday (July 21) division of the $110,000 New York Sire Stakes.
The victory erased the former standard of 1:55.3 set by Share The Delight during 2007.
Coming into the race off a stunning 1:53.3 track record last week at Saratoga Raceway, Freedomformysoul was understandably the overwhelming betting favorite and Morrill used the front-end route for an easy victory over Rockntouch and driver Yannick Gingras.
After getting looped on the first turn by Mikado Blue Chip (Mark MacDonald), Morrill wheeled his colt back to the lead and they passed the first stanza in a stiff :28 and then paced the second quarter in :28.2, reaching the halfway point in :56.2. From there it was catch me if you can, and no one could.
“I got to the half faster than I wanted to, so I didn’t even pull the (ear) plugs,” Morrill admitted after the race. “He’s one of the best 2-year-olds I’ve ever driven. He’s the real deal.”
Owned by the Freedomformysoul Stable and trained by Nancy Johansson, he paid $2.30 for win.
Southwind Masimo won a division of the NYSS in 1:55.4 for Patrick Lachance. That final time was abetted by the speed duel for the lead between We Think Alike (Ray Schnittker) and Old Man Cleary (Yannick Gingras) with early fractions of :27.1 and :56.2.
Lachance had Southwind Masimo out after the half and they swept to the front up the backside and were all by themselves at the wire, some 11 lengths ahead of K Ryan Blue Chip and driver Joe Pavia Jr.
“They were playing hardball up front which worked out good for me,” Lachance said in the winner’s circle when he stopped for a photograph.
Southwind Masimo (Bettor’s Delight-Max’s Leading Lady) is owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable and Conrad Leber and trained by Lachance. The winner paid $27.60 for win.
In yet another NYSS split, Americanprimetime, sent off at odds of more than 78-1, lit up the toteboard and paid $161.50 for win when Tyler Buter drove him to victory in a time of 1:57. They rallied from five lengths back at the top of the lane to collar Ultimate G, driven by Jason Bartlett.
Americanprimetime (American Ideal-Prime Xample A) is owned by the Rock N Roll Stable and trained by Rick Dane Jr.
Jason Bartlett won a pair of NYSS splits. His first was with Twin B Stingray in 1:56.4, pacing a :28 final stanza en route to victory. And they needed every bit of that to hold off Bet You and driver Yannick Gingras by a head.
Twin B Stingray (Bettor’s Delight-Mimicry Hanover) is owned by J&T Silva Racing Stables and C&G Racing Stable and is trained by Aaron Lambert. He paid $20.20 for win.
Bartlett’s other sire stakes victory came with My Spirit Soars (Bettor’s Delight-Sealed In My Heart) in 1:57.2 for owner David Van Wart.
After putting My Spirit Soars on the lead, Corey Braden made a quarter pole move with odds-on favorite JD He’s Da Bomb and Bartlett let them take command before the half. From there Bartlett bided his time and in the lane rallied My Spirit Soars to a head victory over Berkley and Scott Zeron.
“I didn’t want to go with him (Corey Braden) when he came at me near the half so I let him go. If I didn’t my colt would probably not have gotten a check,” Bartlett admitted.
Trained by Tom Fanning, My Spirit Soars paid $5.90 for win.
Excelsior Series winners and their drivers included Can’t It Be Me (2:00-Bruce Aldrich Jr.); Southwind Rex (1:58.4-Jeff Gregory); Spiritintheclouds (2:00.3-Mickey McGivern); Artistic Major (1:59.2-Brent Holland); and Hayden’s Little Man (1:59.3- Phil Fluet).
