Quickaway won his career debut for Canadian connections in the first New York Sire Stakes leg for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, June 19.

In the first of two $104,460 divisions, Quickaway (Yannick Gingras) pressed on two-wide to the lead past the :28.2 quarter, and after a :58 half-mile and 1:27.2 three-quarters, he drew off in a :28.1 final panel to win by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. Killing Joke (Braxten Boyd) was second and Lakewood Nick (Jason Bartlett) came in third.

Quickaway, an American Ideal-Logans Girl colt bred by Winbak Farm, won in his pari-mutuel debut for trainer Blake Macintosh and owners Ozzie Mackay of Moncton N.B., Gilles Landry of Dieppe, N.B. and Robert Mac Neil of Brossard, Que. His 1:53.2 qualifier win at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 20 made him the fastest two-year-old in North America so far this season. He paid $2.50 to win in Thursday's debut as the favourite and led an $11.20 exactor and a $31 trifecta.

Casper The Ghost (Ray Schnittker) cut the quarter in :28.3 in the second split and then yielded to a pocket-popping Ideal Rebel (Tyler Buter) beyond that marker. Ideal Rebel would go on to hit the half in :58.3, but Fragment (Bartlett) attacked first-over out of third after the midway point and went by Ideal Rebel to take command after three-quarters in 1:26.4. It was all Fragment to the finish as he scored by four lengths in 1:55.1 with Hunt Off The Press (Scott Zeron) up for second and Casper The Ghost third.

During the race, a two-horse accident occurred near three-quarters as Unmatched Wisdom (Jordan Stratton) fell and Knoxville (Mark MacDonald), who was following his cover, couldn't avoid him. Both horses got up and returned to the paddock. Stratton continued racing on the night while MacDonald booked off the remainder of his drives.

Per Engblom trains Fragment, a colt by Huntsville and out of The Show Returns, for owners Engblom Stable LLC of Wrightstown, N.J. and Douglas Sipple of Georgetown, Del. Fragment, bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, Michael Robinson, and South Mountain Stables, won at first asking and returned $3.80 to win as the favourite. He keyed a $9 exactor and a $35.80 trifecta.

Ghost Hunt ($10.40) captured the first $27,027 Excelsior Series division for rookie pacing colts and geldings in 1:59.1 with MacDonald in the bike. The Huntsville-Gray Ghost colt is trained by Schnittker, who co-owns and co-bred him with David Pepin and Flintlock Farm Inc. He won by a neck over Jericho Johnny (Buter) with Ready To Hunt (Boyd) well back in third.

Aggieville ($4.70) romped in the second split, sailing to a six-length victory in line to Buter. Jenny Melander conditions the son of Huntsville-Certified Ideal for Exceed Stables LLC. The gelding was bred by Kiefer Elite Bldstock LLC, Martin Michalik, and Jose Bisono.

Stakes action continues on Friday, June 20 at MGM Yonkers Raceway with two $25,000 USD eliminations of the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes for three-year-old male pacers in races six and seven. The Grade 2 $200,000 USD MGM Grand Messenger Stakes Final, the Grade 2 $300,000 USD MGM Yonkers Trot Final, and their companion filly races - the Grade 3 Park MGM Pace and Grade 3 New York New York Mile - are scheduled to take place on June 27. No eliminations were required for the MGM Yonkers Trot as the five entrants - Chat Room, Happy Jack B, Hard Seven, Super Chapter, and Variegated - advanced straight to the final.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)