Two year old trotting fillies as part of the New York Sire Stakes took center stage on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel. There were four divisions of the $35,000+ Sire Stakes races for freshman fillies. Ake Svanstedt’s Splash Blue Chip (E L Titan-Dunk The Donato- Donato Hanover) was the fastest two year old winner on the card as she followed up a qualifier in which she posted a final quarter of 26.4 with a front-running victory on Wednesday. Svanstedt trains and drives the freshman filly who was tested in the stretch by Iteration (Brian Sears) and Tranquility K (Larry Stalbaum) but held strong to score in 1:58.4 in her lifetime debut. Splash Blue Chip is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Mellby Gard Inc.

Brian Sears piloted three winners on the matinee card including one while piloting Imbossible (Chapter Seven-Lavendar Fields-Muscle Hill) for trainer Marcus Melander and Courant Inc. of Delray Beach, FL. Imbossible was fourth at the top of the stretch but came motoring home in impressive fashion before stopping the timer in 1:59.2 to record the victory in her first career start.

Destined To Dance (Chapter Seven-Go Go Dancer-Credit Winner) and Contested Hanover (Chapter Seven- C R Calendar Girl-S J’s Photo) each went coast-to-coast to prevail in their $36,150 divisions of the NYSS. Destined To Dance went start to finish with Tyler Buter piloting for trainer John Butenschoen and owners Preziotti, Heritage Stbds and Crawford Fms Rcg. Destined To Dance, who finished third at Harrah’s Philly when making her lifetime debut on June 26^th, was a decisive winner on Wednesday going wire-to-wire in 1:59.4. Contested Hanover scored the biggest “upset” among the stakes winners as she cruised on the engine in 2:00.1 with Scott Zeron driving for Ftm Racing Stable of Ocala, Fl and trainer Geroge Ducharme. Contested Hanover felt just mild pressure before drawing off to score in her lifetime debut, paying $9.60 to win. New York Sire Stakes action is set to return to Saratoga in two weeks on July 22^nd.

Live racing continues on Thursday at the Spa with a matinee beginning at 12 Noon.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino