Seaside Wins Filly Futurity

David Miller was first to the lead with Seaside in the second heat of the $380,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity Friday afternoon at The Red Mile, and then after relinquishing control to OK To Play and Daniel Dube approaching the half, found room along the pylons in midstretch to emerge the winner of the trotting classic for 3 year olds.

 

If any of the elim winners won the second heat the winner would be crowned, but with OK To Play beginning to tire, Seaside looking for room on the inside and Broadway Schooner appearing to be out of contention, it appeared at the top of the stretch a race-off was imminent as the first-over Yursa Hanover loomed bold, followed by a second-over Windsong Soprano. But OK To Play drifted right just enough to allow Miller to urge Seaside through and on to the 1:54 victory. Yursa Hanover held for second with Littlemscantbwrong closing late for Jody Jamieson to take third.

 

Miller said in the winner's circle that he wanted the lead but if he wasn't able to secure the spot, there was just one horse he would relinquish control to. The scenario played to perfection for Miller as it was that horse--OK To Play--who was moved to the lead by driver Dube shortly past the opening quarter. "The only one I was going to cut loose was the one horse (OK To Play)," he said.

 

Trainer Jonas Cznernyson recently got married in the famed Round Barn located on the grounds of The Red Mile, so the Filly Futurity was a second chance to have a celebration. The winner is a daughter of Yankee Glide out of the Meadow Road mare Blue Skys Again, who won for the fifth time this year in 14 starts. Owned by Thomas Dillon of Anson, Maine, Seaside has seasonal earnings $273,543.