Rich contest attracts top sophomore filly trotters

October 11, 2007

Thirty 3-year-old filly trotters have been entered for the inaugural $400,000 Phillip Tully Trot at Monticello Raceway, with the entries split into four eliminations on Monday to determine the finalists--the top two from each race--for the rich final on Oct. 22.

Some of the finest New York-breds who have already proven their abilities over half mile tracks are among the entrants. Included are Schnittker, Demeter and Burns� Chippewa Street ($182,144), the winner of the $150,000 NYSS final at Yonkers Raceway, Dr. Doug Hutchins� eight-time NYSS winner Cocktail Hour ($149,477), and Fred Monteleone and Sal Promuto�s Angie Blue Chip ($141,091), a 1:59 NYSS winner here at Monticello Raceway who will go head-to-head in the final $20,000 division.

However, their competition of the Lightning Stables Flash Lightning ($208,328), a 1:52.4 winner in a Kentucky Filly Futurity elimination at The Red Mile on Oct. 5 and the improving Pippiwhitestockngs ($53,515 in 10 starts), a 1:56.3 winner at Delaware, Ohio arguably make that division the toughest of the four.

The first split, race one, features JML Stables, Heathrow and Sholty Stables� Exotic Destination ($135,778), who won the World Trotting Derby filly division in 1:52.2 at Du Quoin, Ill., Rachel Frost, Sampson Street Stable and Fox Hollow Farms� Radiant Lady ($103,401), a 1:56.1 winner at the Meadowlands, and Lloyd Arnold�s Ms. Virginia ($77,900), a 1:58.4 winner at Harrington Raceway.

L & L Devisser�s Victoria Volo ($111,920), a 1:54.2 winner at the Red Mile on Oct. 6 and David K Reid�s Just Dandy ($188,073), a 1:59 winner at Rideau Carleton in her last outing, figure to be the ones to beat in the second split.

In the other division, Carolyn Atherton�s good New York-bred Oh Oh Its Magic (eight wins ($265,302), Steve Stewart and Andrew and Linda Fabian�s Classical Mary ($118,724), and Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband�s Aiken For Clay ($129,705) will pose big threats to their competition.

Of the 30 entries one, 29 sustained payments with the owners of Exotic Destination plunking down a $20,000 supplemental fee.

The Phillip Tully Trot was named for the late Hall of Famer and salesman extraordinaire who was a long-time Monticello, N.Y. resident. In the1960s Tully was the racing secretary and sometimes announcer at Monticello Raceway. (with files from Monticello)

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