Darlin's Delight big in NY

Darlin’s Delight led the parade of New York Sire Stakes champions at Saratoga Gaming & Raceway Saturday night as she obliterated the track record for 3-year-old pacing fillies with her 1:52, open-lengths performance in the $150,000 NYSS final. Eight NYSS championships were held on a beautiful late summer evening before a crowd of about 4,000.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Darlin’s Delight opened up lengths on the field in the last quarter mile and cruised home for her eighth victory in 11 starts this season. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Town Pro is owned by her breeder, White Birch Farms. Jeff Stafford trains the filly.

Darlin’s Delight pushed her career earnings over the $1 million mark when she won the Fan Hanover final at Mohawk. Her next stakes start will be the Breeders Crown at Woodbine.

“She’s not eligible to anything at Lexington, and I don’t think the owner will be supplementing her,” said Stafford. “I think we’ll just go next to Canada.”

Several other track and/or stakes records were set in the championships, including the 1:55.2 mile turned in by Algiers Hall in the 3-year-old colt trot.

With arch-rival RC Royalty at Mohawk for the Canadian Trotting Classic elimination, Algiers Hall raced uncontested through the mille half of the race. Celebrity Surfer mounted a challenge in the homestretch, but couldn’t overtake Algiers Hall.

Algiers Hall is a son of Conway Hall. He’s now won seven of 14 starts this season and pushed his 2006 earnings to $285,394.

Other NYSS championship winners were as follows:
Tessel (by Conway Hall)—2YO Filly Trot—2:00.1
Kenneth J (by Bettor’s Delight)—2YO Colt Pace—1:55.2
Predator DVM (by Bettor’s Delight)—3YO Colt Pace—1:52.1
Hitwiththeladies (by Giant Hit)—2YO Colt Trot—1:59
Paula’s Best (by Pro Bono Best)—2YO Filly Pace—1:55
Quick Credit (by Credit Winner)—3YO Filly Trot—1:56.2

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