Tioga Downs played host to a pair of $79,167 divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for three-year-old trotting colts & geldings on Sunday (August 11) with Fly By (Jason Bartlett) cruising to an easy win in the first division and Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett) capturing the second division.
In the first split, Mister Melby (Tyler Buter) was first to the quarter in :27.4. Fly By ($3.50) took over with a lap to go and led to the half in :56. Thinker Monkey (Mark MacDonald) was first to make a move first-up heading down the backstretch while Fly By was first to three-quarters in 1:24.4.
As they reached the top of the stretch, Fly By had plenty in the tank to win easily in a lifetime best of 1:53.3. Mister Melby was second. Nottingham (Braxten Boyd) finished third.
Fly By is a colt by Chapter Seven trained by Tony Alagna for owners Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld, and Pryde Stables.
In the second split, Sir Pinocchio ($3.50) got the early lead, but Wild Ticket (Jim Marohn Jr.) took control just before hitting the quarter first in :27. Wild Ticket was first to the half in :55.4 and first to three-quarters in 1:24.
As they entered the stretch, Sir Pinocchio popped the pocket and blew right on by second place finisher Wild Ticket to win in a lifetime best of 1:52.1. Keep Asking (Tyler Buter) finished third.
Sir Pinocchio is a gelding by Mets Hall owned by Carolyn Atherton and trained by Ed Hart. A winner of eight career victories, the win was his sixth of the season.
Bartlett drove five winners on the afternoon. Besides sweeping the NYSS races, Bartlett won with The Good Doctor, Portugal The Man and It Wasnt Me.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs with a special matinee on Thursday (Aug. 15) at 12:15 p.m. There is no racing on Friday (Aug. 16).
(With files from Tioga Downs)