Dayson went right to the lead in his colt division for driver Yannick Gingras, cutting fractions of 28.4, 57.3, and 1:26.3 with Rock The Bones left on the outside pressing the issue. After that rival faded, the much-improved Skeezix, the Pennsylvania Stallion Series champion, took his shot at the leader, but while racing well he never got any closer than the 1¼ lengths he was behind at the end of the 1:55 mile.
The R-And-I Farms LLC will be very pleased that the recent misbehavior of their Sir Royson came to an end on Friday. The son of Crazed parked favored Cufflink Hanover to a 28 quarter and well on the way to a 56.1 half before turning him loose to sit the perfect trip, with the pacesetter and first-over Hotitoutofthepark staging a hard battle towards the 1:25 3/4s, around the turn, and into the stretch. Tim Tetrick then pointed Sir Royson to the passing lane, and the sophomore had to be good this afternoon – and was – to nose out a game Hititoutofthepark, with the favorite settling for third. Trainer Linda Toscano will try to build on the improved decorum of her charge, who did have a victory of Dayson earlier this year which added to his $130,300 bankroll.
Hitoutofthepark was trained by hot conditioner John Butenschoen, who had better luck in one of the two filly sections with the well-traveled Lookin Sharp (whose lines showed stakes races at The Meadowlands, Ocean Downs, Mohawk, The Meadows, and Philly). The Andover Hall filly, owned by William Wiswell and M&L of Delaware LLC, was sent away sharply by driver Corey Callahan, commanding the lead in a 27.4 opener before yielding to brushing Goosebump Hanover, then sat behind that one through middle splits of 57 and 1:26.3. When Lookin Sharp cleared inside into the lane, she was even with Maker A Yankee, who had swept wide off the turn and gained, but through the stretch Lookin Sharp lived up to her name to defeat that rival by a length in 1:56.3 and lift her earnings to $284,662.
In the other distaff division, the Muscle Hill miss Southwind Hope (Orange) crushed the $200,000 earnings plateau, as the Andy Miller-driven, Julie Miller-trained filly got home a length to the good of Open Access in 1:55. Southwind Hope came on a second quarter brush to take the lead from Open Acess, who had gained it past the 29 first station, then lit up the timer with middle fractions of 58 and 1:27 before storming home in 28 to seal the victory. Southwind Hope raised her bankroll to $219,573 for the Andy Miller Stable Inc., Little E LLC, and Lawrence Dumain.
