Rookies Spar In The Southern Tier
Tioga Downs played host to three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Sunday (July 18).
Cool Papa Bell (Jason Bartlett) destroyed the field in the $34,300 first division.
Barn Bully (Corey Callahan) took the lead and led to the first quarter in :29.1 before pulling the half back to :59. Cool Papa Bell ($3.40) made his move from third and brushed by to the lead before hitting three-quarters in 1:27.3.
As they headed to the stretch, Cool Papa Bell turned on the jets and left everyone else far behind as he won easily in 1:56.3. Grand Spa (Scott Zeron) came up to finish second. Barn Bully held on for third.
Cool Papa Bell, a Chapter Seven-Blk Thai Optional gelding, is owned by Runthetable Stables and trained by Jim Campbell. He is now a perfect three-for-three in his young career.
Justice (Åke Svanstedt) breezed to an easy win in the $33,600 second division.
Justice ($3.00) jumped straight out from the gate and surged right to the lead, hitting the first quarter in :28.3. Secret Rule (Joe Bongiorno) advanced into the pocket as they went by the stands for the first time; meanwhile, Justice rated middle splits of :57.3 and 1:27.1.
As they made the turn for home, Secret Rule popped out of the pocket but sputtered as Justice found another gear and just breezed down the stretch to win easily in a lifetime best 1:55.4. Velvet Style (Bartlett) came up to finish second. Secret Rule held on for third money.
Svanstedt trains and shares ownership of Justice, a Chapter Seven-Religulous colt who is now two-for-two, with Little E LLC, Torbjorn Swahn Inc. and Myfab Inc.
Branded By Lindy (Scott Zeron) came flying late to capture the $33,600 third division.
Quincy Market (Callahan) went straight to the front, but Castle House (Kasper Foget) went on by to hit the first quarter first in :27.4. Quincy Market regained the lead with a lap to go and was first to the half in :56.4. Distance Learning (Brian Sears) made a first-over move down the backstretch, but Quincy Market shook him off and led to three-quarters in 1:26.
Branded By Lindy ($2.90) was fifth as they hit three-quarters. As they made the turn for home, Quincy Market looked like he was going to put them all away but Branded By Lindy looked like he was shot out of a cannon down the stretch and blew right on by to win easily in 1:56.2. Quincy Market held on for second. Chapheart (Bartlett) finished third.
Branded By Lindy, a Chapter Seven-The Lindy Label colt, is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere. This was his first win in two career starts.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (July 24) starting at 6:15 p.m.
(Tioga Downs)