Gone Baby Gone was the fastest of the seven New York Sire Stakes winners at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon, as the half-mile oval rolled out the red carpet for an army of two-year-old pacing colts and geldings
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The altered son of Pro Bono Best-Soft Sell, who was paired up with driver Billy "Zeke" Parker, Jr., rolled to an easy 1:58.4 victory in his $21,701 split. Gone Baby Gone, who is trained by Gary Messenger for his wife, Brenda Messenger, and Dr. Scott Woogen, won by more than two lengths over Lislea Reardon. Third prize went to Major Jette.
"He just waits for you to give him a signal (to go) and when you do he just takes off," Parker said. "All I did was lift the lines and he was gone. He's quick as a cat."
Also impressive was the Saratoga Raceway invader, Flexjet, who toured the double-oval in a time of 1:59:2 for driver Danny Cappello, Jr. The colt drew off to win by four lengths over Beepo And Clem. Rounding out the top three was Sign Of Delight.
"I think he's better in a hole than he is on the front-end,” Cappello said as he walked his colt to the winners circle and then added with a smile "He's the real deal."
Trainer Chet Poole shares ownership with Winbak Farm, Norman Kelapire and Debra Chase.
Both Flexjet, a son of Village Jove-No Sweets Please, and Gone Baby Gone remained undefeated each with three consecutive pari-mutuel wins.
Driver Jim Morrill, Jr., last years New York Sire Stakes "Driver of the Year", is right back at it again this season. The talented teamster won three NYSS splits on the card.
Morrill's first triumph came behind Ken Jacobs’ Holiday Spot, a son of Artiscape-Hawaiian Ty, in the $21,310 first division. The Linda Toscano-trained colt stopped the clock in 2:03 en route to defeating Whiskey Pete and King Will.
Morrill and Toscano hooked up again in the second division with Capital Blue Chip, a son of Art Major-Ichiban, who halted the teletimer in 2:00. Bluff Point was second and third prize went to Art Two D Two. The pacer is owned by Stake Your Claim Stable and Fred Wallace.
Morrill's final victory came with Double Dakota in 1:59:1. The son of Artiscape-Driven To Sin, who was making his first lifetime start, defeated Jo Pas Fod and Shinedupnreadytogo. Ron Burke trains the youngster for the Burke Racing Stable, Lawrence Carr, Phillip Collura and Frank Baldachino.
Jason Bartlett gave trainer Mark Ford a NYSS victory when he guided Eagle Art M to a 2:00 triumph over Catherines Girl and B Street Smart in his $21,710 split. It was the first win in three seasonal starts for the son of Art Major-Stasias Girl, who is owned by Frank Dettore Horse Racing LLC.
And though he probably was the smallest in size of the 55 NYSS starters, the diminutive Speculative Edge showed his heels to the field when the he sprinted home in :29.1 to post a 2:00.2 victory over Park Lane Midnight and Takemewithyou. The son of Bettors Delight-Prosecutor Mindale, who was driven by Stephane Bouchard for trainer Brian Connor, is owned by Michele Panebianco and Alan Crawford.
(Monticello Raceway)