Top New York two-year-olds will contest the Big Apple Finals, worth a combined $1 million USD, on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Vernon Downs. The four divisions each hold a purse of $250,000 USD.
Fragment (PP6, Jason Bartlett, 3-2) is the favourite in the event for pacing colts and geldings. He was dominant for conditioner Per Engblom in his elimination race, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.1. The colt has tallied seven wins and $528,198 in earnings in 11 outings. Hunting Glory (PP2, Jordan Stratton, 7-2) is the second choice after his strong elimination win. Lakewood Nick (PP5, 6-1) adds driver Yannick Gingras and could be in the mix as he looks for his first career win.
The final for trotting colts and geldings looks to be wide-open. Titans Mischief (PP2, Matt Kakaley) was made the 2-1 morning-line favourite. He is coming off a second-place finish in his elimination, his fourth straight runner-up effort. The Bruce Clarke trainee has three wins and seven seconds in his 10 starts and earned $396,200. Elimination winner Read The Room (PP3, Dylan Huckabone-Miller, 6-1) comes into the event off two straight victories. Twin B Seven Sins (PP5, Tyler Buter, 9-2) and New York Sire Stakes champion AI (PP9, Gingras, 5-1) will be strong contenders as well.
New York Sire Stakes champion Liberty Style (PP6, Jason Bartlett, 3-1) is the morning-line chalk in the pacing filly final. The Andrew Stafford pupil is five-for-nine with $411,551 in earnings. Six-time winner Long Shore (PP2, Gingras, 7-2) is coming off an elimination win last week for trainer Joe Pavia. Odds On Monetary (Ridge Warren, 7-1) won the other elimination for her fourth victory of the year and will start from post seven in the final.
Nezuko Kamado S (PP2, Jason Bartlett, 7-5) leads the nine-horse field for the filly trotters after her elimination romp. Marcus Melander trains the filly, a four-time winner with $315,027 in the bank from seven starts. Sharp Seven (PP5, Jeff Gregory, 3-1), who won three New York Sire Stakes legs and the final, looks to be her main rival. Storybook Love (Todd Ratchford, 6-1) will start from post three after taking the other elimination.
The 15-race cards starts at 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs; photo of Fragment winning on Sept. 6)