Two-year-old pacing colt Primacy Station set a divisional track record at Monticello Raceway, winning the $152,535 New York Sire Stakes in 1:53.4 on Monday, July 27.
Primacy Station was first away from the inside post through a :28.1 opening panel for driver Matt Kakaley before Rose Run Cowboy (Yannick Gingras) took over for middle splits of :57 and 1:25.2, with 3-2 favoured Maries Jet (Jason Bartlett) challenging first-over as the freshmen raced down the backstretch. As Maries Jet lost ground on the final turn, Primacy Station took the clear outside path and went by Rose Run Cowboy in the straightaway to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Maries Jet finished more than five lengths back in third.
Primacy Station earned his first NYSS victory and now has a three-for-four lifetime record with earnings passing his $100,000 yearling price. Travis Alexander trains the American Ideal-Preeminence colt for Alexander Racing Stable of Delray Beach, Florida, C M T Farms of Arnprior, Ont., Evm Racing of Middletown, Delaware and James Scarpias of Massapequa, New York.
Primacy Station paid $8.06 to win as the 3-1 third wagering choice.
Kakaley and Alexander also teamed up to win one of the four $28,169 Excelsior Series divisions with Takes Courage pinning a head defeat on favourite Beach Bum Bluechip (Bartlett) in 1:58 flat to double up in the series.
Jason Bartlett drove two repeat Excelsior winners for trainer Hunter Oakes: Babylon Blue Chip in 1:56.2 and the undefeated Blast Blue Chip in 1:56.
The fastest Excelsior winner was Bacchus Blue Chip, who broke his maiden in 1:55.1 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke.
(Standardbred Canada with files from Monticello Raceway)