Secret Credit upsets Southwind Samurai

Wednesday afternoon started out cold and windy at Monticello Raceway and by the third race rain began falling. By the sixth race the track was muddy, which hampered some of the sophomore trotting fillies who were racing in the seven divisions of the $188,000 New York Sire Stakes.

 

Divisional winners included Secret Credit, Impressive Kemp, Don’twanttobeblue, Tuesdays With Mom, Sweetspellosuccess, Munis Blue Chip and To Lindy’s Credit.

 

In the second race,  prior to the pouring rain, Secret Credit had little trouble turning the tables on odds-on favorite Southwind Samurai when Brian Mattison  guided  her to a wire to wire lifetime best of  1:59.2.  Pat Berry eased Southwind Samurai away from the gate and landed her at the back of the pack in the early going. He challenged the leaders as they trotted for the three quarters and Southwind Samurai even ranged alongside Secret Credit on the final turn. However, Secret Credit was up to the challenge and trotted away to an easy four-length triumph over Show Your Lindys and Anita Valstad while Southwind Samurai faded and finished third.

 

Mattison was asked if he was surprised with the ease his 15-1 shot defeated heavily favored Southwind Samurai . “No not really. She was a nice filly last year and this year, after  throat surgery, she’s even better,” he replied. “ She (Secret Credit) won over  $77,000 last season and she’ll be heard from in the sires stakes this year for sure.”

 

The winner, trained by Paul Kelley, is owned by  Bill Weaver and the Kelley Racing Stable.

 

Impressive Kemp  was  impressive when Mike Vanderkemp guided the daughter of Credit Winner to a 1:59.1 victory in another $26,759 division. Sent off as the favorite after  some fast winning miles at Vernon Downs Vanderkemp allowed Jeff Gregory and Comical Dream to cut the early fractions and the came late to pick up all the marbles. Impressive Kemp, trained by Noel Daley, is owned by Jean Edward Cloutier.

 

By the time that Sweetspellosuccess went to post in the eighth race the track was beginning to get  muddy, still Trond Smedshammer hustled the daughter of Spellbound  Hanover to the lead and made every polr a winning one en route to a 2:05 victory over a fast-closing Ilovemymommy (Brian Allen).

 

In the winner's circle Smedshammer told co-owners Ted Gewertz and Claire Chappell that the Credit Winner filly wasn’t real good today. “She’ll never be a mudder…she didn’t like the track,” Smedshammer said.

 

Munis Blue Chip, who won the $200,000 NYSS Final  for 2-year-old trotting fillies last fall, picked right up where she left off when she was an easy wire to wire winner for Ray Schnittker over the then muddy racetrack. Despite the muddy track Munis Blue Chip kicked in a :29:4 final quarter en route to a 2:02.3 triumph.

 

When Schnittker was asked if the outcome of the race was ever in doubt he said, “Nah, she’s a killer.”

 

Schittker co-owns Munis Blue Chip with Steve Arnold, Blue Chip Bloodstock and Jerry Silva.

Tuesdayswithmom, who finished  second to  Munis Blue Chip  in the NYSS Final last year, had  to hold off a late rush by  Somersault(Phil Fluet) to score a head victory in a 2:01.4 clocking in yet another division.  Jeff Gregory drove the winner who’s owned and trained by Peter Arrigenna.

 

Local Teamster Jimmy Devaux got in the winner's circle after hustling Don’twanttobeblue to a 2:03.2 victory in another division  while a final split was won by To Lindy’s Credit (Howard Parker), who made a break in the first turn and came back to win her contest in 2:06.3 over a heavy and muddy track. (Monticello Raceway)