Vernon Downs played host to two $78,571 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Friday, July 10, with driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Marcus Melander completing the afternoon NYSS sweep.

Gios Hope (pictured above) captured the first division, and the faster division, delivering on debut in 1:55. 

Favoured Seven Pledges (Jason Bartlett) attempted to cut the mile, clicking off quarters in :28, :57.4 and 1:26. Gios Hope made his move first-up from third as they went around the final turn, within a length of the leader at the third station. 

Gios Hope and Seven Pledges battled into the stretch, with Gios Hope surging to the front to win by nearly three lengths over Seven Pledges. T Money (Tyler Buter) finished third.

Gios Hope is a colt by Chapter Seven-Southwind Hope.  He is owned by Brixton Medical Inc., of Matawan, N.J. and Hatfield Stables of Columbus, Oh. The Melander trainee returned $15.92 to win in his maiden-breaking effort.

Bigtime Chapter completed the Dunn-Melander sweep in the next race, besting his rivals in 1:57.2.

Uncle Rob (Tyler Miller) went straight to the front from his outside post and was first to the quarter in :29.1.  Bigtime Chapter popped the pocket and took over control reaching the half first in :59.2. He maintained control from there, hitting three-quarters in 1:28.3 before closing in :28.4 for his first career win.  Uncle Rob gave everything he had but finished just less than two lengths in arrears. Favoured Archon (Jordan Stratton) was third best.

Bigtime Chapter is a colt by Chapter Seven-Fine Tuned Lady.  He is owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York, N.Y. He paid $6.86 on a $2 win wager.

Trainer Rob Harmon swept the $28,571 Excelsior Series divisions for rookie trotting colts, winning with Telling Tall Tales (1:58.1 for driver Brett Beckwith; $2.68) and Betelgeusebluechip (1:57.4 at the request of driver Tyler Buter; $5.36).

Primo Uomo upset the apple cart in the $12,143 Open Pace, closing from off the pace for driver Jeff Gregory and trainer Dave Dewhurst for the 1:52.2 score as the longest shot on the tote board at 25-1. 

There is no live racing on Saturday, July 11.  Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Sunday, July 12 with a post time of 5:05 p.m. 

(Standardbred Canada, with files from Vernon)