With the New York Sire Stakes season having kicked off this week, a couple of three year old trotting fillies who competed in stakes competition last season and may be prepping to do the same in 2019 prevailed at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Wednesday afternoon. Trainer Bob Gale is based out of central New York but often competes at Saratoga and on Wednesday, his RC’s Lady Royale (RC Royalty) drew the rail for her try in a $7,500 trotting event for New York sired high-steppers. Having finished a fast second on Sunday afternoon at the Spa, RC’s Lady Royale was the public’s 1-5 betting favorite as she went coast-to-coast on Wednesday with Jay Randall in tow. The filly who earned over $15,000 as a freshman in ’18 has come back strong to begin her ’19 campaign set a lifetime mark with her score in 1:59.3 and appears poised for a solid season in Excelsior Series competition.
Somermusic’chapter (Chapter Seven) raced in the Sire Stakes last season and though the Dan Daley trainee was winless as a freshman, she did earn over $17,500 in just seven starts. With lasix added and hopples off, Somermusic’chapter made her sophomore debut on Wednesday and driver Gerry Mattison was in to drive for Daley. The three year old filly powered up first-over and cruised past her race’s favorite before drawing away to break her maiden in 2:00.2 to kick off her season in style.
The first installment of the NYSS at Saratoga will take place on May 26th with the three year old trotting fillies competing at the Spa on Sunday June 9th.
