So Awesome with driver Jim Morrill Jr.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
With $105,000 up for grabs in the New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night, 10 of the best state-bred 2-year-old pacing fillies were on hand to compete in two divisions for the spoils and both winners put in career best efforts to get the job done.
So Awesome (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) lived up to her name in the first $52,500 division as she led the race at every station of the mile.
So Awesome (Jim Morrill Jr.) got away second momentarily before pulling past the eighth and taking the front by the quarter. With the field in single file behind, Morrill grabbed leather and had So Awesome set a pedestrian :58 half before picking up the pace in the third panel with a crisp :28.4. It was then JK American Beauty (Daniel Dube) pulled the pocket and came after at the leader.
JK American Beauty accelerated into the final turn got almost even with So Awesome around that bend. But Morrill fed So Awesome some line and she switched gears and paced away to the wire, finishing a wrapped-up winner in 1:55, which was a new lifetime mark for the filly.
“She had good position and when I got her to the front she did all the work. I was just a passenger the whole mile,” said Morrill after the race.
So Awesome ($3.00) now has three wins in five lifetime starts and $96,615 in earnings for owner William Hartt. Scott Di Domenico trains the winner.
The second $52,500 split saw Hurrikane Norakane (Art Major-Western Heat) win decisively off of a strong front-end effort.
(Hurrikane Norakane with driver Dan Dube.)
Taking the lead when the gate opened, Hurrikane Norakane (Dan Dube) was immediately pressured by Gia’s Surreal (John Macdonald) who tried to leave and then lost the hole. With post time favorite Brooklyn Lilacs (Jim Morrill Jr.) sitting second behind the her, Hurrikane Norakane held Gia’s Surreal at bay to the half in :56.3 and Gia’s Surreal kept Brooklyn Lilacs locked in until almost the three-quarters when she finally faded.
As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Brooklyn Lilacs pulled at the apex of the far turn and tried to get to Hurrikane Norakane. But the filly in front would have none of that. Hurrikane Norakane opened up a quick three-length lead while Dube sat like a statue and won in 1:55.1, which was another lifetime mark this night.
“I thought she was the best from the rail and that’s why I went down the road with her. I never even popped the plugs” Dube recounted in the winner’s circle.
Now with her first NYSS win, Hurrikane Norakane ($6.70) has put $73,300 in the bank so far this year for owners Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investment Group and George Vierno. John Mc Dermott trains the winner.
There were also two divisions of the $15,000 Excel “A” series on the card.
Dorothy’s Legacy (Art Major-Put On A Display) was a gate to wire winner in 1:58.1 for driver Daniel Dube in the first division. Dorothy’s Legacy ($7.20) is owned by R. B. H. Ventures Inc., Capital Call and Joe Sbrocco and is trained by Kevin Mc Dermott.
The second set was bested by Sun Viser (Heston Blue Chip-Beach Bonnet) who upset the field when he came first-over at three-quarters and pulled away to a two-length victory in 1:57.2, which was a new lifetime mark. Sun Viser ($38.80) is owned by Triple D Stables and is trained by Scott Di Domenico.
Di Domenico ended up with a training triple on Wednesday’s card. Besides the aforementioned So Awesome and Sun Viser, he also sent Joe’s Girl (Roll With Joe-Donna’s Girl) to the winner’s circle after a 1:57.1, career best effort in Excel “B” action for owners Triple D Stables and JFE Enterprise. Jim Morrill Jr. drove.
Overall in New York bred action, Daniel Dube had a driving triple while Jim Morrill Jr. captured two wins.
