TRACK RECORD FALLS TWICE; ROMANTIC MOMENT’S 1:52.3 PREVAILS

Lightning struck again at Monticello Raceway. For the second time in less than two weeks  a track record  not only  fell  but was lowered twice on the same race card.

Some of the country’s top 3-year-old pacing fillies were on hand on Tuesday afternoon, August 28  to compete in three $54,125 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes. When they were completed the former track mark -- for their age and gait-- of  1:53.3, which was set in 2007 by Omen Hanover  and driver  Daniel Dube, was initially lowered to 1:52.4 by Handsoffmycookie. Then four races later Romantic Moment  eased that standard  when she was victorious in 1:52.3. A third split was won by another top filly, Major Look in 1:53.3.

“It was definitely an exciting afternoon for racing fans, not only with top fillies here but with top drivers too,” noted Eric Warner the tracks director of racing. “There are seasons that go by without any new  marks and then to have a track record fall twice on one day is amazing, especially when it happened  in sire stakes action two weeks ago with the 2-year-old pacing fillies.”

Railbirds were treated to the expertise of driver Tim Tetrick who was on hand to drive Handsoffmycookie. And right from the get-go there was little doubt that the Art Major-Observe Me filly  would prevail.

Leaving from the three hole Tetrick took Handsoffmycookie to the front and led the field by the quarter in a solid :27.3 with George Brennan and New York Kitty chasing him in the two-hole.

The leaders raced one-two by the half in :56.3  and were still in that order as they paced into the final turn.

From there it was all Handsoffmycookie who opened up daylight with every stride and finished  six lengths ahead of JK Fine Art and driver Ron Pierce. New York Kitty hung on for the show dough.

Trained by Scott DiDomenico  for the Jfe Enterprises, Handsoffmycookie  returned a $2.40 win mutueland raised her seasonal earnings to $261,895.

Similar to what happened  when the NYSS freshman fillies here on August 16 the initial track record didn’t last long when Brittany Farms  Romantic Moment  circled the double-oval in 1:52.3 for Yannick Gringas.

Sent off  ten cents on a dollar, the  daughter of American Ideal-Time N Again took command early and never was  challenged as she slipped through fractions of :28, :56.2, and 1:24.4 before pouring on a :27.4 final stanza  to record a four- length victory over Ramalama and driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr.  Third place went to Brownsville Bomber in rein to Jason Bartlett.

Trained by Jimmy Takter, Romantic Moment scored her sixth triumph  in just nine starts and raised her seasonal  bankroll to $555,573, currently fifth best in  North America.

In the final $54,125 split the Kevin McDermott-trained, Major Look and driver Jeff Gregory,  started slowly and were six lengths behind at the quarter as Shelliscape (Jason Bartlett) and  Bettor B Lucky (Jimmy Morrill, Jr.) battled for the lead. The former gained command and in :27.2 and then led the five others by the half in :56.3 at which point Gregory  set sails  first-up with Major Look. They gained ground slowly and at the third stanza they were  in third position  just 1 ½ lengths off the leader.  On the final turn Shelliscape still had command but trouble was coming.

In the lane Bettor B Lucky and Major Look charged by the leader and raced head to head with Gregory’s filly getting the nod at the wire. Shelliscape held on for third money.

Owned by Joseph Balkunas,  Mark Giordano and Anthony Pancella,  Major Look paid $4.10 for win. It was the filly’s  seventh triumph of the season which raised her earnings to $256,242.