Paula's Best sets Btva mark

Paula’s Best broke the Batavia Downs track record and beat the former track record holder with a 1:55 win in a New York Sire Stakes division for 2-year-old filly pacers Wednesday night, Aug. 30.

Jim Morrill Jr. drove the Pro Bono Best filly to a 2 1/2 length, wire-to-wire win over JK Let It Ride, who set the former mark of 1:56.3 on Aug. 19. Ross Croghan trains Paula’s Best for owner Larry Roman, who purchased her privately through an agent three weeks ago.

Paula’s Best made her first start for her new connections Aug. 19, in the Molly Pitcher at Freehold, but made a break at the three quarters and finished fifth. Croghan attributes the break to some miscommunication when the filly switched hands.

“I was actually away when she came in and I spoke to (former trainer) Eddie Hart and he gave me a verbal list of what she wears. I think there was a little confusion there between his brain or mind—we’re both getting old—and we had the wrong hobble size on her at Freehold. (Driver Ron) Pierce said he felt like she could have won for fun but when he asked her to go fast she just ran,” Croghan said.

After some tinkering, Croghan apparently has fixed the hobble problem.

“I pulled them up, trained her, put her where I thought she was comfortable and crossed my fingers and hoped that I had it right,” he said.

Paula's Best, originally named Allamerican Cajun as a $21,000 yearling, has won three of six starts with $47,053 in purse earnings. She is out of the Artsplace mare CD's Girl, who is a full sister to millionaire Arturo.

The other NYSS divisions were won by Bettoronthebeach (1:57.3), Baskin Hanover (1:57.4), and Bet Your Booty (1:58.2).

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