Spicy Wings hot in 299G Hudson Filly Trot

Spicy Wings rolled from pocket to passing lane to pay dirt Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $299,050 final of the Hudson Filly Trot and leading a sweep of the medal stand for the three-horse, odds-on coupled entry.

With Cat Manzi driving for trainer Jeff Webster, Spicy Wings stalked Costa Rica (Ron Pierce) to the lane, then easily went by. she won by a couple of lengths in a tepid 2:00.1.

Costa Rica, outdrawing her seven rivals, stuffed Spicy Wings--leaving from post position No. 3--into that early seat. Cost Rica put up intervals of  :28.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 (soft 1:01.4 middle half). Secret Credit (Jeff Gregory), one of three misbehavers in the race, recovered to challenge first-up.

Costa Rica dispatched that longshot, taking a length-and-quarter lead into the lane. However, the millionairess was about to give up the ghost. Spicy Wings zipped past, as did entrymates Munis Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker) and Religulous (Steve Smith). Costa Rica faded to fourth, with Show Your Lindys (Frode  Fladen) earning the final pay envelope.

Secret Credit and the other bad actors--Bramelea Hanover (Dave Miller) and Unefoisdansmavie (Stephane Bouchard) completed the order.            

For Spicy Wings, a sophomore daughter of Andover Hall  trauined by Jeff Webster for co-owners Let It Ride and Mentally Stables & Jerry Silva, she (and her running mates) returned $3.70 for her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. Silva also co-owns "Munis," and owns Religulous.

The exacta (Costa Rica for parimutuel second) paid $9.60, with the triple (Show Your Lindys parimutuel third) retuning $69.50.

"I knew a good bit about her before last week's elimination race (winning with a :27.4 final quarter)," Manzi said. "She showed a lot then, and tonight, I knew if I could get carried to the lane, she'd be tough.

"I don't think the other filly (Costa Rica) is as good as she's been, but don't take anything away from mine." (Yonkers)