OK To Play, Broadway Schooner, Seaside win Filly Futurity elims

Daniel Dube moved OK To Play from third to first at the opening quarter and the sophomore trotter led the rest of the way to win the first of three $65,520 eliminations for the $378,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity Friday afternoon at The Red Mile. The time of the mile was 1:53.4 over a track rated "fast" after morning rains caused a one-hour delay in post time. The second elim was won by Broadway Schooner in 1:53.3 for driver Brian Sears, while Seaside and David Miller caputured the third elim also in 1:53.3.

 

Although OK To Play drifted a bit down the stretch as she trotted a final quarter of :27.4, she was still about three lengths to the good as she crossed the wire over runner-up Littlemscantbwrong and driver Jody Jamieson, who avoided early trouble from a breaking Celebrity Deville. Wedding Dress and John Campbell finished third to earn a spot in the second heat of the Filly Futurity. Favored Highscore Kemp, who trotted to a world-record win in the World Filly Trotting Derby at Du Quoin, Ill., last month, finished fourth after a first-over trip from the half.

 

OK To Play is trained by Erv Miller, who began conditioning the daughter of Yankee Glide in early September. This was the third start under the Miller Stable banner, which includes a second-place finish in the Moni Maker elim and then a fifth-place finish in the rich final after being parked the mile. OK To Play is owned by Daniel Plouffe and Jean Claude Dessureault.

 

Sears also made a quarter-move to the lead from third with Broadway Schooner, and the bay filly was game throughout the stretch to hold off a determined bid by Windsong Soprano, who had ranged up first-over approaching three quarters. Sea Raven was third for Tim Tetrick, with Honorable Daughter and Campbell taking fourth, and subsequently earning a spot in the rich final by virtue of having higher 2009 earnings than Highscore Kemp.

 

A daughter of Broadway Hall, Broadway Schooner in August won the $783,042 Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands. She is trained by Jim Campbell for breeder-owners Arlene and Jules Siegel.

 

Seaside led gate to wire to notch her fourth win of the year, holding off a late-rallying Yursa Hanover and driver Dube by about a length. Margarita Momma and Ron Pierce finished third to earn a return ticket for the second heat.

 

Trained by Jonas Czernyson, the winning daughter of Yankee Glide is owned by Thomas Dillon.