On Monday evening (July 8), Yonkers Raceway hosted the New York Sire Stakes Michael Sorentino Trot for two-year-old colts and geldings.
As pair of $50,400 wagering races and a non-bettor comprised the event.
The opening on-the-card division saw a maiden-breaking Berkery J (Jason Bartlett, $7.10) go right down the road. From post position No. 2, he had no issues (:29.2, 59.4, 1:29.2, 1:58.2). The final widening margin was 7-1/4 lengths over a way-too-late, even-money favourite Chaptiama (Trond Smedshammer).
R Herbie Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) and Miserable Mike (John Stark, Jr.) finished off the bottom of the gimmicks.
For second choice Berkery J, a son of Chapter Seven owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by George Ducharme, it was that first win in seasonal/career starts.
”Very handy,” Bartlett said. “George (Ducharme) had him ready. He’s going to be a good half-mile (track) horse.”
The evening’s final statebred event saw a three-wide Saylor (trainer Doug R. Ackerman doing honours himself) set ambitious fractions (:28.1, :58.3, 1:28.3), then hold well.
However, he came under assault, first from pocket-pulling, 9-10 choice (Bourbon Express (Bartlett), then eventual winner Beerthirty K (Mike Simons, $12.20).
Away third from the pole, Beerthirty K was widest and fastest, drawing out to whip the people’s preference by a length-and-a-half in 1:58. Saylor was third, despite being steppy through the lane, with Take the Credit (Svanstedt) fourth.
For third choice Beerthirty K, a Credit Winner colt trained by Bruce Borden for owner Don Atlas, it was his first win in pair of season/life tries.
“Bruce (Borden) has brought him along beautifully,” Simons said. “He hasn’t done anything wrong and the trip here worked out for him.”
The $49,500 non-wagering sire stakes event was won by a down-the-road Barn Holden (Jeff Gregory) in 1:58. It was a first win for the homebred son of Conway Hall, co-owned by (trainer) Steve and Nancy Pratt, Purple Haze & Out of the Country Stables.
New York Sire Stakes returns downstate Thursday night, with the $153,900 Clyde Hirt Pace for two-year-old fillies.
(Yonkers)