Three-year-old male trotters were at Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday night for a pair of New York Sire Stakes showdowns, and the victories would go to Cool Papa Bell and Velvet Style.
The first grouping went for a purse of $82,500, and Chapheart (Trond Smedshammer) fired to the top and carved out the opening quarter in :28. Race favourite Molotov Cocktail (Scott Zeron) then tipped out of the pocket on the second turn and he worked his way past Chapheart to become the new leader passing the half-mile marker, which went on the board in :57.
Watching that action from third was Cool Papa Bell (Brian Sears), and Sears rolled him first-over as the field raced for the backstretch for the final time. Cool Papa Bell marched into second heading to the 1:26.2 three-quarters, took command on the rim on the last turn and then powered away impressively from his rivals through the lane, winning by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:54.2. Molotov Cocktail, Chapheart, Perfect Titan (Jordan Stratton), and Tantra Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) rounded out the order.
Cool Papa Bell is a Chapter Seven gelding trained by Jim Campbell for owner Runthetable Stables. Cool Papa Bell, bred by Belmar Racing and Breeding, has won six times from 15 career appearances, has now earned $248,999, and paid $6.10 to win.
Quincy Market (Matt Kakaley) put up fractions of :28.2, :58, and 1:26.4 in the second $81,000 section, with Castle House (Jason Bartlett) stepping out first-over from third going to three-quarters and giving a second-over trip to Velvet Style (Stratton), who gapped off the others in fourth before catching up to Castle House's cover.
Stratton fanned Velvet Style out three-wide midway through the final bend, and after a spirited drive to the wire among Quincy Market, Castle House, and Velvet Style, it was Velvet Style who had the best kick, getting up to score by a neck in 1:55.4. Quincy Market and Castle House wound up in a dead-heat for second and Secret Rule (Joe Bongiorno) finished fourth.
Mark Ford trains Velvet Style, a Credit Winner gelding bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, for owners George and Rose Bonomo. Velvet Style has compiled a record of 5-6-2 from 24 lifetime starts and pushed his bankroll well over the $125,000 mark. He returned $6.50 to win as the 2-1 third choice.
There were also two $15,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series events for sophomore trotting colts and geldings.
Makadushin N Cheez (by Conway Hall and bred by Fair Winds Farm) won the first of those tests on the lead in 1:56.4 for driver Jason Bartlett, co-owner/trainer David Dewhurst, and co-owners Joseph D'Agostino, Molly D'Agostino and Philip Kadushin.
By The Book (by Chapter Seven and bred by Fred Hertrich III) took the other division from the pocket in 1:57.3 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Hermann Heitmann and owner Melady Enterprises LLC.
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