The sensational filly Barn Bella (Conway Hall) was at it again on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Steven Pratt-trained filly was the 3-5 betting favorite in the $91,550 New York Sire Stake for three year old trotters. Regular reinsman Jeff Gregory sat behind her as she looked to go move her record to eight for nine in 2017. Gregory was patient with the odds-on favorite sitting fourth while major danger Celebrity Ruth (Jason Bartlett) carved out the fractions. Barn Bella powered up first over but never got too close to Celebrity Ruth until mid-stretch. At that point, the superstar filly surged past the leader to take over and win in 1:55. Celebrity Ruth had to settle for second while Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci) earned the show spot in the featured trot for sophomore fillies. Barn Bella has now scored 14 victories in her 18 career starts en route to almost $430,000 in earnings. Southwind Tesla (Chapter Seven) recorded her first NY Sire Stakes win on Thursday as Jordan Stratton piloted the Rene Dion-trained filly to a wire-to-wire score in 1:55.2. The earnings from the win in Thursday’s $89,950 race more than doubled the career bankroll for the Ontario-based trotting filly.
Live racing continues on Friday night with a 7:05pm first post.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
