New York Sires Stakes notables Im The Answer, Surface Tension and Some Girls were among the divisional winners in Thursday night’s $290,128 co-features for Empire state-breds at Vernon Downs

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Im The Answer earned his eighth win in 13 seasonal starts, while local favourite Surface Tension turned in the fastest mile during Thursday’s $145,548 NYSS event for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The Vernon-based Some Girls was the swiftest winner in the $144,580 NYSS contest for sophomore filly square-gaiters.

Competing over a “good” track in the first male trotting test, Im The Answer front-ended his way to a 1:56.3 victory with trainer Trond Smedshammer doing the steering for Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables. It resulted in the 10th career triumph for the brown son of Credit Winner-Southwind Flanders, who hiked his career winnings to $267,217.

Local teamster Dan Daley secured a double during the 12-race program after steering Surface Tension out of the pocket in the stretch and on to a career-best 1:54.4 score in the eighth event, giving his charge a 5-2-1 summary line after 14 current outings. It marked the 10th lifetime victory for the brown son of Cash Hall-Hopeful Gigi, who is shared in ownership by Ann-Mari Daley (Dan’s wife), Richard Lombardo and Albert C. Crawford.

The other winners in the male category were: Wheels (Conway Hall-Quick Credit) in 1:55.3 for driver/trainer Ray Schnittker and his ownership partner, the Wheels Stable; and Bristles Winner (Credit Winner-Bristle Hanover) in 1:56.2 with Jeff Gregory handling the lines for trainer Tony Alagna and owner John Carver.

Some Girls, shared in ownership by trainer Gates Brunet of Munnsville, New York, along with Theodore Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal and Jean Brunet, collected her third score in succession and lowered her win mark to 1:56.4 with a fast-closing head victory for driver Jim Morrill Jr. in the second filly flight. The bay daughter of Conway Hall-Emotional Rescue has recorded an 8-2-1 summary chart in 15 current appearances, which has raised her lifetime win count to 16 and her all-time earnings to $431,483.

The other filly first-place finishers were: Miss Sue V (Credit Winner-Sunday Yankee) in 1:57 with Brian Mattison driving for trainer Paul Kelley, the Kelley Racing Stable and William Weaver, III; Brooklyn (Conway Hall-Anna Karins Girl) in 1:57.2 with Morrill Jr. teaming for trainer Frank Antonacci and the Adam Victor & Son Stable; and Go Go Dancer (Credit Winner-Princess Gladiator) in 1:58.4 with Gregory sitting in for trainer Paul Kelley and the Jim Winske, Stephen Michaels, Rossie Smith and Kelley Racing Stable contingent.

Jezzy, who has recorded 19 wins and a pair of second-place finishes in 24 lifetime starts, was a judges scratch in Thursday’s seventh race

Eagle Hilarious, trainer Claude Huckabone III driving for owner Hugo Iodice, captured Thursday’s $10,000 12th race, the week’s Open for female pacers, with a front-striding 1:54.1 performance. It marked the third local tally, fifth season’s score and 27th lifetime win for the seven-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-Cyclebred.

(Vernon Downs)