New York Sire Stakes continued a Yonkers Raceway sublet Monday night, with the $278,200 Hugh Grant Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings
in five divisions.
It was a 4-H sort of evening - hazy, hot, humid and Hes Gorgeous.
The defending NYSS champ - and frosh track record-holder - made a mockery of the third ($56,440) statebred division at a nickel on a dollar. Hes Gorgeous (Jason Bartlett, $2.10) won by 5-1/2 of the easiest lengths around in 1:54.1. Major Work of Art (Phil Fluet), put in play early from the eight-hole at 51-1, held second over Drummerboy Hanover (George Brennan).
The son of Art Major, trained by Linda Toscano for owner Ken Jacobs, is now 11-for-16 lifetime (2-for-5 this season) with career earnings in excess of $373,000.
"He's just a joy to be around," Jacobs said. "He loves what he does, and he tries so hard. Even when he was beaten (by One More Laugh) in the Art Rooney Pace, he fought back right to the wire. He never disappoints us."
Sears won a pair of NYSS events, including the final ($55,440) division with upsetter Jerrys Brown Gold. Angling out late, the pacer made the transition from conditioned ranks at Monticello to the sire stakes winner's circle. He defeated Triple Major (Brennan) by a couple of lengths, with Art for Arts Sake (Ryan Anderson) third.
Jerrys Brown Gold, an Art Major colt owned by Fred Monteleone Stables and trained by Ed Hart, returned $21.80 (fourth choice) for his third win in seven seasonal starts. He shaved more than three seconds off his previous best performance.
"Obviously, I didn't know a whole lot about him before," Sears said. "He felt good keeping up, and when I asked him, he went on by."
Monday night's other divisions, each worth $55,440, went to:
• Real Gentleman (by Artiscape) 1:53.4
• Whiskey Pete (by Art Major) 1:54.2
• Art Two D Two (by Art Major) 1:54.4
(Yonkers Raceway)