Driven by Tim Tetrick, Helpisontheway ($5) won the first of three $39,900+ divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Tioga Downs on Friday (June 15), setting a divisional track record of 1:52.2.
Making his sophomore debut, Fourth Dimension (Brian Sears) worked hard to get the lead by the first quarter in :27. He then led the field to the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.1. Helpisontheway sat back patiently and made his move in the stretch to blow right by to win in track record time and beat his personal best by two seconds. Fourth Dimension settled for second and Classichap (Trond Smedshammer) finished third.
Helpisontheway is a three-year-old Chapter Seven colt, trained by Linda Toscano for owners Camelot Stable Inc., The Bay's Stable LLC and Little E LLC. The win was his second of the season and third lifetime.
The second $40,600 division of the NYSS went to Voss Volo ($9.50) and driver Corey Callahan.
Yuge (Scott Zeron) led the pack into a first quarter of :27.2. Cruising In Style (Anthony MacDonald) then took over and led to a half in :56.3. Voss Volo went to work in the backstretch, rushing by to take over before hitting three-quarters in 1:24.4. Down the stretch, he cruised to victory in 1:53.4. On The Ropes (Ake Svanstedt) came up to finish second. Seven Iron (Tim Tetrick) was third.
Voss Volo is a three-year-old gelding by Credit Winner, owned by Pinske Stables and William Wiswell while trained by John Butenschoen. He won for the first time this year and secured career win number two.
The Veteran ($3) easily won the third $39,900 division, giving Tetrick another NYSS sulky score.
The Veteran went gate-to-wire putting up all the fractions (:29, :57.4, 1:26, 1:54.1). Owned by W.J. Donovan, Stephen Michaels, Jim Winske and trainer George Ducharme, the three-year-old Muscle Mass colt never had an anxious moment. Southwind Chrome (Scott Zeron) was second-best and Fashion Forever (Corey Callahan) finished third.
The win was The Veteran's third of the season and career victory number five.
(With files from Tioga Downs)