New York Sire Stakes action continued downstate on Tuesday night (June 26), as Yonkers Raceway hosted the $158,000 Jim Meagher Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Three consecutive divisions — worth $53,000, $52,000 and $53,000, respectively — comprised the event, which again honoured the memory of the Raceway’s long-time corporate controller.
Tuesday was the first Sire Stakes event for the frosh, the majority of whom were making their purse debuts.
The opening division proved quite formful, as the two favourites finished one-two. Odds-on World On Edge (Matt Kakaley, $3.80), from post position 2, took over passing a :28.4 opening quarter mile, then finished it off from there through fractions of :58.2, 1:28.3 and 1:57.1. He defeated KJ Leo (George Brennan) by 1-3/4 lengths, with 36-1 outsider Hurrikane Kingklee (Dan Dubé), Covered Bridge (Brian Sears) and Starship Trooper (Tim Tetrick) grabbing the minors.
For World On Edge, a son of Roll with Joe co-owned by trainer Ron Burke's Burke Racing Stable, Joe DiScala Jr., J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Adriano Sorella, it was his pari-mutuel debut. The exacta paid $7.60, the triple retuned $68 and the superfecta paid $297.
The evening’s second grouping was an unfair fight, as Melodies Major (Tyler Buter, $7.60) tickled the timer in a event’s-fastest 1:55.3. From post 5, he two-moved around Bean (Jason Bartlett) before a :30 quarter, then gave nothing else a chance through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:27.3.
Melodies Major widened to four lengths in and out of the final turn, lost Bean — who eventually broke in the lane — then defeated slight 2-1 favourite Bicorne Hanover (Kakaley) by eight lengths. Third went to Jojos Place (Corey Callahan), recovering from a nasty break at the start, with slow-starting Jet Rock (Brian Sears) and Hestons Blue Chip (Jordan Stratton) settling for the remainder.
For third choice Melodies Major, an Art Major colt owned by Martin Scharf and trained by Mark Ford, he was another making his career purse bow. The exacta paid $19.20, the triple retuned $63 and the superfecta paid $297.
“I didn’t even ask him,” Buter said. “I drove him twice in (Pocono) qualifiers and he impressed me. I think I’m going to stay with him.”
The evening’s final get-together saw Major Blake (Tim Tetrick, $5.90), from post 3, complete his appointed rounds through fractions :29, :58.4, 1:27.4 and 1:56. The final margin was 2-1/2 lengths. Jack Nation (Mark MacDonald) rallied for second, with Buddy Hill (Scott Zeron) third.
Shanghai Bobby (Bartlett) pocketed as the 3-5 choice, but apparently wasn’t crazy about it. He vacated passing three-quarters to challenge, was rebuffed and backpedalled to fourth. Blissful Road (Buter) was fifth.
For second choice Major Blake, a son of Art Major co-owned by trainer Sam Schillaci with Matthew Bencic and Howard Berke, he too was another first-time starter. The exacta paid $50.50, the triple retuned $369.50 and the superfecta paid $454.
The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Tuesday’s (July 3) Hugh Grant Trot for two-year-old fillies.
(Yonkers Raceway)