Win Missy B in Currier & Ives record 1:54.4

Win Missy B, whose eight wins last year as a 2 year old included the Goldsmith Maid and Peaceful Way, won her first race of 2012 in four attempts Monday afternoon at The Meadows, capturing one of three $40,000 divisions of the Currier & Ives 3-Year-Old Filly Trot in a stakes record-equaling 1:54.4. The other divisions went to Delicious and Shanty Irish in 1:56 and 1:56.1, respectively.

 

Going postward as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite in the opening Currier & Ives split, Win Missy B and trainer-driver Charlie Norris got away second behind second-favorite Sequin Hanover and driver Dave Palone but was quarter-moved to the front as the timer flashed :28.4. Win Missy B remained in front through fractions of :57.3 and 1:26 before trotting a final quarter of :28.4 to seal the victory. Palone edged Sequin Hanover to the outside around the final turn to make things interesting but the bid was to no avail as the winner held her at bay by three-quarters of a length under the wire.

 

A homebred of Robert Key, Win Missy B came into the race off a third-place finish in the Elegantimage final June 16 at Mohawk Racetrack. Monday's win, her ninth in 17 career starts, increased the daughter of Conway Hall's earnings to $836,661. The effort equaled the previous stakes mark set by Timelesswinnner Too and driver Palone in 2009.

 

Delicious was sent off the 9-5 second choice in the second division behind 3-2 favorite Taylor Jean but it was the daughter of Cantab Hall who easily captured the race. Driven by Matt Kakaley, Delicious left from post seven and made the front by the opening quarter of :28. Delicious reached the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:26 as Mike Wilder found himself boxed in third with nowhere to go with Taylor Jean.

 

Delicious opened up daylight over the competition in the stretch and coasted home to her first win of the year in five starts. Loose Deuce was second for Palone, with Keystone Tempo third for Tony Schadel. Wilder was able to work his way up the inside at the top of the stretch but had to settle for fifth.

 

Trained by Ron Gurfein, Delicious is a Lindy Farms of Conn.-bred daughter of Cantab Hall owned by Patrick Quaid and Jerry Silva. Her career earnings now stand at $165,327. She had a freshman campaign of 8-4-3-1, with her wins including the Hanover at Balmoral Park.

 

Palone was in the sulky behind Shanty Irish as the daughter of Muscles Yankee parlayed a two-hole trip behind favorite Cocktail Attire and Schadel into victory. Content to let Cocktail Attire set fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:27, Palone tipped Shanty Irish at the top of the lane and wore down the leader nearing the wire to win by a half length. Powell Blue Chip and Eric Ledford finished third.

 

Trained by Ron Burke, Shanty Irish came into the race off a third-place finish in a conditioned event at the Meadowlands just three days ago. She won for the second time in six starts this year after a one-win-in-five-starts freshman season. Bred by Richard and Joyce McClelland, Shanty Irish is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, who purchased her at the January Tattersalls Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands for $20,500. Her earnings now stand at slightly more than $50,000