Vernon Downs played host to four divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) on Monday, May 26, featuring a pair for sophomore trotting fillies as well as a pair for sophomore trotting colts and geldings with trainer Marcus Melander pulling three winners out of the four divisions.
The first division for colts and geldings, worth $80,959, was taken by Super Chapter ($2.90) and Dexter Dunn.
Chat Room (Tyler Buter) led through the :29.1 quarter and :59 half before Super Chapter took command after a first-over trip, clicking the three-quarters first in 1:27. As they made the turn for home, Monserrate (David Miller) went all out on the leader, but Super Chapter braved ahead and won easily in 1:53.3. Seven Layer (Niko Karna) completed the triactor.
Trained by Melander, Super Chapter (Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit) is owned by Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. His 2025 tally is one-for-one and he has six career victories. In 12 starts, the sophomore colt has banked $755,592 lifetime.
Variegated ($3) completed the stakes action in the second division for the males with Dexter Dunn aboard.
Happy Jack B (Ake Svanstedt) was the first to the quarter in :27.3. Variegated brushed by going down the backstretch to lead to the half in :56.3, continuing in command to the three-quarters in 1:24.2. Turning for home, Variegated took off to win in a career best 1:52.3. Global Sensation (Brett Beckwith) finished second and Karinchak (Mark MacDonald) finished in the show spot.
Owned by SRF Stable and trained by Melander, Variegated (Chapter Seven-White Cheetah) won his second race of the season in as many starts and his fourth career race. He has banked $109,923 of his $413,989 career sum this year to date.
Royal Mission ($4.90) and Scott Zeron captured the $79,452 first division for the young ladies.
Royal Mission (pictured above) grabbed the early lead, but Calculus Risk (Frank Affrunti) took over just before the quarter-mile marker in :27.4. Heading down the backstretch, Royal Mission regained control and led to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.1. As they reached the stretch, Sonmar Pond (Brett Beckwith) unloaded on the leader, but Royal Mission overpowered and won in a career best 1:54. Sonmar Pond had to settle for second and Calculus Risk completed the top three.
The sophomore daughter of Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty is owned by Jeffrey Snyder and trained by Melander. A winner of $465,861 lifetime, she picked up her first of the season following a second in the opening NYSS leg and fourth career victory.
My Debt Collecter ($3.50) and Tyler Buter took the second split for fillies.
Pink Chou Chou (David Miller) controlled the tempo through the :29.1 quarter, :59.4 half and 1:28.2 three-quarters. My Debt Collecter bided her time until the stretch, launching out of the pocket to victory in 1:55.4. Pink Chou Chou finished second with Best Story Ever (Tyler Miller) third.
Trained by Nifty Norman for owners Little E LLC, David McDuffee and Mel Hartman, My Debt Collecter (Chapter Seven-Magic Presto) won her third (consecutive) race of the season after starting with a pair of runner-up finishes and her sixth career victory. She now shows $460,843 earned.
Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday, May 30, with a post time of 5:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs)