Maud Blue Chip and Exotic Form take New York Sire Stakes on Thursday night

The favorite Maud Blue Chip continued her winning ways with a career-best 1:58 performance in a division of Thursday night's $109,124 New York Sires Stakes feature for 2-year-old filly trotters at Vernon Downs.

Maud Blue Chip and Tyler Buter

Competing against eight eager rivals over a rain-affected good track in Thursday's ninth race, Maud Blue Chip rallied from fourth at the half to become a challenging second entering the final quarter.  With Tyler Buter doing the teaming for trainer Chuck Sylvester, the steady-striding brown filly turned on the speed in the stretch and defeated Market Rally by 1-3/4 lengths.  It was the third straight NYSS score, and the fourth win (coupled with a pair of third-place finishes) in six starts for the quick-footed daughter of Credit Winner-Queen of the Moor, who increased her winnings to $126,639 for owners Melvin Hartman, David H. Mc Duffee and Jeff Gural's Little E LLC stable.

Thursday's other NYSS winner was Exotic Form, a representative of the Dan Dailey Stable entry, who also closed late to post a 1:58.2 lifetime-fastest tally in the sixth session.  Claude Huckabone, III was at the controls for Daley as the opportunistic bay filly overtook the favorite, Gammy's Girl, in the final furlong and secured a three-quarter length score, her second NYSS win in succession and third (coupled with a second-place finish and a third) in seven official outings.  The fast and fit daughter of Malabar Man-Form Fitting increased her earnings to $103,045 for the Winbak Farm. 

Thursday's 12-race program also included three divisions of a $38,200 Excelsior Series contest for state-bred frosh-filly high-steppers.  The winners were Ski To The Max (Conway Hall-Enjoy The Sun) in 1:59.3 for driver and trainer Gates Brunet and the Theodore Gewertz,  Y. Jean Brunet and Deborah Brunet ownership contingent; Emiliana (Cash Hall-Monalisa Can) in 1:59.3 with Chris Long teaming for trainer Jim Graham and owner Lisa Wyatt, and Holly's Lightning (Conway Hall-Indigo Sakra) in 2:00.2 for driver/trainer Sam Schillaci and owner Greg Martin.

The crowd's choice Billmar Scooter, making just her second local appearance, delivered a 1:51.2 triumph in Thursday's $10,000 second race, the week's Open distaff pace.  The hard-hitting 8-year-old mare rallied from fourth in the final quarter to defeat Love You Bye, last week's victor in this class, by two lengths.  It was the fifth current victory and 38^th all-time for the bay daughter of Keystone Raider-Its Scooter Time, who is owned by driver Tyler Buter, trained by Amber Buter and owned by the Oldford Farms.

In addition to Tyler Buter's driving double, reinsman Chris Lems collected his meet-leading 19^th two-win credit during the track's 63^rd program of 2013.  

DOWNS DOINGS—The Peter Carney-conditioned trotter Rattle On (2:02.1) and Holly's Lightning (2:00.2) each earned their first pari-mutuel victories during Thursday's card…The Downs will present a 10-race program starting at 6:45 on Friday night…A revised 2013 racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.