Hes Watching became 'He's Wandering' Monday night, and it nearly cost him the title of 'He's Perfect.'

Hes Watching, despite bearing out noticeably through the lane, did stick his tongue out at the right time, just winning his division of Yonkers Raceway's $233,087 New York Sire Stakes Jim Crawford Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Leaving from post position five as the 1-4 favourite in the $78,629 third (final) division, He's Watching and driver Jim Morrill, Jr. used the same MO as their previous local visit.

Easing from the gate, Hes Watching then moved past second choice All Bets Off (George Brennan) just after a :28-second opening quarter-mile. A pair of :28.2 quarters (:56.2, 1:24.4) with no outer flow gave Hes Watching a length-and-a-half lead entering the lane. However, Hes Watching ($2.50) then began an impromptu meet-and-greet with the fans on the apron, maintaining anything but a straight line. All Bets Off had every chance, but missed a short schnoz in 1:53.3. Hardts Or Bettor, the 101-1 rank outsider, was third, beaten nearly nine lengths.

Hes Watching, a world record-holding son of American Ideal co-owned by (trainer) Dave Menary, Brad Gray and Michael Guerrero, is now 7-for-7 (all in NYSS) this season ($179,222 and counting for a three-grand yearling).

"When I was scoring him down, he was running in a bit," Morrill said, "but in the lane he was running out. I don't know exactly why he did it, but Dave and I are going to talk about it."

Next up is the $1.8 million New York Night of Champions here a week from Saturday (Sept. 28).

Driver and trainer won the previous ($77,229) sire stakes division, as pocket-sitting Major Trick ($18.80) picked off 3-5 fave Twin B Speedo in 1:55.1. The winner, from post two, stalked through intervals of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:26.4, then won three-quarters of a length. Thereisapaceforus was third.

For Major Trick, a homebred son of Art Major owned by Gray, has three wins and a pair of seconds in seven tries this summer.

Morrill's personal hat trick began with odds-on Big Boy Dreams ($2.90) in the first ($77,229) grouping. In tight quarters early and pocketed from post two, Big Boy Dreams eased by Design Guru late. The margin was a half-length in 1:55. Sir Sams Z Tam was third.

For Big Boy Dreams, an If I Can Dream colt owned by Dominick Rosato and trained by Tracy Brainard, he's now 5-for-9 after a third consecutive win (sire stakes) win.

New York Sire Stakes continue Thursday and Friday nights, respectively, with the $235,887 Pat Quaglietta Trot (two-year-old fillies) and $227,488 Lew Barasch Trot (two-year-old colts/geldings).

(Yonkers Raceway)