Aug 3, 2023
Hunting Hula, So Well Dressed take NYSS splits at Batavia
By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs
(Photos courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery)
Two divisions of New York Sire Stake 2-year-old pacing fillies convened at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 2) to claim their share of the $110,100 in purses up for grabs and both victories were achieved by very slim margins.
The first group lined up for a purse of $54,100 with Hunting Hula (Huntsville-Hula’s Z Tam) pulling off the upset with her first lifetime win.
Delightville (Matt Kakaley) took the lead off the gate while the short field of four hit the pylons in post position order. After Delightville cut fractions of :28.4 and :58.2, Camerican (Jordan Stratton) made a first-over move from third midway up the backstretch and was loosely followed by Hunting Hula (Pat Lachance) who had trailed the whole way. As the fillies motored through the last turn, Camerican drew even with Delightville while Hunting Hula was still two lengths behind. But when the group straightened out for home, Hunting Hula came barreling down the middle of the stretch and passed the field at the wire by a nose in 1:55.3, which was a lifetime mark.
Hunting Hula ($19.00) is owned by It’s All Good Racing and is trained by Bruce Lauer. Pat Lachance and Z Tam Stable bred Hunting Hula.
The second field of five vied for $56,000 and So Well Dressed (So Surreal-Gotmyreddressontnit) was the best at the line.
So Well Dressed (Jim Morrill Jr.) took no prisoners as he seated Blue Point (Jason Bartlett) going to the quarter to maintain a lead he would never relinquish. The top two fillies broke away from the field by two lengths as So Well Dressed cut quarters of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.4. At three-quarters, Bronx Barista (Mark Macdonald) got in gear and made her way to third on the outside until the top of the stretch. That is...