Batavia Downs yesterday hosted its second New York Sire Stakes event of the season, and for the second time a new track record was set in the process. Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were in town and they vied for a total of $128,940 in purse money, split up in four divisions.
The new Batavia track record came in the second division when Dejarmbro, who had Jeff Gregory at the lines, trotted to a three and a half-length victory in 1:58.4, easily lowering Donttellmywife’s 1:59.3 mark set in 2008.
Starting from Post 2, Gregory sent Dejarmbro out of the gate, but quickly realized that Jim Morrill, Jr., leaving from the rail behind New Identity, wanted to cut the mile, so he took back to sit in the pocket.
New Identity got down to the half in a speedy :57.3, but was unable to shake Dejarmbro, who was right there in second. It was obvious it was going to be a match race, as the two talented freshmen opened up daylight on the rest of the field.
Midway on the final turn Gregory decided it was time to go, and pulled Dejarmbro to the outside. Down the lane it was all Dejarmbro, under a very confident Gregory, as they trotted to command and wrote their names in the Batavia Downs record books.
A modest Gregory made the record-breaking mile sound easy.
“I just let him do his own thing," Gregory said of the Credit Winner colt. "He’s a very nice two-year-old.”
The final stakes race of the evening went to the John Hallett-trained Typical Newyorker, who had Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky. The duo won by four and a half lengths in 2:02.3. The Conway Hall colt moved to the front just before the quarter pole and showed the way throughout for his fifth win in a row.
“I really didn’t want to cut the mile but we were going so slow I had to come back out or I was afraid I was going to lose him,” Morrill explained. “As you can see we were going a very slow half and if I would have stayed in I think we would have been in trouble. He’s a nice little horse, Johnny’s done a nice job with him. He always gives 150 per cent and is a pleasure to drive.”
Wednesday night’s other NYSS contests, worth $31,935 and $32,535, respectively, were won by Petruchio (2:00.2) and Whitewater Rapids (2:02.1).
(With files from Batavia)