Chicy Micky equals Robert Stewart record

Longshot Novelty AS broke her maiden in fine style Sunday night in the first of four divisions of the Robert Stewart Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Mohawk, as she trotted to the wire three lengths ahead of her nearest rivals in 1:59.2.

Jody Jamieson, catch-driving Novelty AS after regular driver/trainer Anette Lorentzon ran into traffic heading up from New Jersey, was the only driver to get his filly’s nose to the gate at the start, and he took full advantage of the opportunity, sending the daughter of Striking Sahbra smartly to the front of the eight-filly field. With Jean Pierre Dubois and Mara It tucked into the pocket, Novelty AS set sensible fractions of :28.3, :59.2, and 1:29.3, all the while working on opening her lead.

At the top of the stretch she was three lengths to the good, with Mara It fading, and she crossed the wire alone while second favourite, Hindright (with John Campbell in the bike) rushed up for second on the far outside, and Looking Back At You (Trond Smedshammer) grabbed third.

Favorite Magical Debut was scratched, as was Rene Laarman trainee, Striking Fashion.

“I’d raced her once at Flamboro,” said Jamieson, “and she’d just gotten off the truck and had to go race, so she wasn’t herself. They’ve been fiddling with her a little bit to get her right. (Lorentzon) said she was perfect in Florida all winter and then she qualified in Jersey, so she’s been good, and it worked out tonight. We were the only ones on the gate and we kinda got left alone there; she had some trot finishing, so it worked out good. It was a really good effort for her really.”

Novelty AS is owned by ACL Stuteri of Paris, Ky., and has made two previous starts at Flamboro and Mohawk without picking up checks. The winner’s portion of the $104,100(C) purse should make a solid start to her bankroll.

In the second $105,100(C) Robert Stewart division for trotting lasses, favorite Chicy Micky lived up to her 8-5 rating and equaled the Robert Stewart Stakes record for trotters in the process, trotting home in 1:58.1 for Paul MacDonell, three lengths ahead of Jamieson and Elusive Desire.

Doug Brown and Paycheck Lavec set the early fractions in this 11-horse contest, with Jean Pierre Dubois once again grabbing the pocket spot with Beltane Hanover. MacDonell, who took over the drive tonight from Rick Zeron, played a waiting game with Chicy Micky while the pacesetter trotted through fractions of :28.2, :58., and 1:28.

As Paycheck Lavec began to run out of steam, Chicy Micky swept past and quickly established a solid lead, while second favourite Elusive Desire got the place spot and Cuddler (Randy Waples) nipped into third.

“I schooled her here (at Mohawk) a week ago Monday,” said MacDonell. “She was pretty strong and I really liked the way she got around the track. She proved it again tonight.

“She’s the kind of filly that if you left with her a few times, she might get a little hot. I was able to settle her in fourth or fifth, and she still had lots of pop in the last half of the race. Once she got around horses she opened up by a couple and cruised to the wire by herself . She was well within herself.”

Chicy Micky, a daughter of Kadabra out of the Valley Victory mare, Dream Valley Om, can now boast two wins in three lifetime starts for trainer Kevin O’Reilly and owners Mel Hartman, Irving LIversman, David Duffee, and John Fielding. (WEG)

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