See You At Peelers dq'd in NYSS

Although it appeared at first that See You At Peelers had got back on the winning track after seeing her perfect 22-race unbeaten streak halted in last week's Nadia Lobell at The Meadows, the 3-year-old filly was disqualified from a victory in a $49,235 New York Sire Stakes division Sunday night at Tioga Downs and placed second. The race and subsequent outcome puts in serious jeopardy the possibility of See You At Peelers starting against the colts later this month in the Little Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio.

 

After being three wide in the opening turn for driver Jim Morrill Jr., See You At Peelers rushed past the leading New Album and driver Jason Bartlett past the opening quarter of :27. See You At Peelers led through a :55.3 half and 1:23.4 three quarters, at which point Greg Merton had Alexachase first-over and challenging.

 

Down the stretch See You At Peelers dug in to fight off Alexachase, and she also had to contend with New Album, who was closing up the pylons. Although See You At Peelers crossed the wire a head in front of New Album in 1:52.3, a judges' inquiry was posted to determine possible interference. The judges ruled See You At Peelers had moved to her left into New Album, which resulted in the disqualification. Alexachase, just a nose back of New Album, was third.

 

"I still don't want to make any excuses, but I don't think she's really 100 percent," Takter said afterward. "Something is bothering her, which I have no idea what it is because she should have fought them off a little easier today."

 

As for the official winner New Album, the daughter of Western Terror is owned by trainer Mark Kesmodel, Jeffrey Bamond and the Baron Racing Stable.

 

As for the other 3-year-old filly pace divisions, Ms. Malicious won for Bartlett in 1:52.1 and Miss Annie J scored for Morrill in 1:53.2

 

Fantaddy and driver Morrill posted the fastest time in the three divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers in 1:52. Morrill sat off the pace as Mojo Terror (Mark Macdonald) and Feel Like A Fool (Bartlett) tortured each other through fractions of :26.4 and :55.1 before Morrill unleashed Fantaddy to grab control of the field by three quarters in 1:22.4. Down the stretch Morrill was in total control and had Fantaddy shut down on their way to an open-lengths win in 1:52.

 

The other colt winners were Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam and Pat Lachance in 1:51.3 and Overnight Delight and Bartlett in 1:52.4.