Fragment ruled in the first of two $72,917 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) divisions for two-year-old pacing males to headline a six-victory performance by driver Jason Bartlett on Thursday, Aug. 7 at Batavia Downs
The son of Huntsville-The Show Returns controlled the field from the lead before pulling away late at 1-9. Bartlett put him on the point and set soft fractions of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:29.2 while his three on-stride opponents stayed on the pegs and tried to keep pace. As the field rounded the final turn, Fragment started to pull away, and he was clear by three lengths entering the stretch. From there, Fragment was completely unchallenged and pulled away by 4-1/2 lengths to punctuate a 1:56.2 win. Ideal Rebel (Tyler Buter) was second-best, followed by Lakewood Nick (Jim Morrill Jr.).
Fragment won three straight NYSS events to start his career before his first defeat last time out on July 28. The Per Engblom-trained colt has now earned $214,929 with four wins in five outings for Engblom Stable LLC and Douglas Sipple.
In the second NYSS event, Hunt Off The Press (Huntsville-Off The Press) led at every station before turning away a strong late bid for the win.
Quickaway (Bartlett) took the front off the gate but soon relinquished it to Hunt Off The Press (Buter) at the :28.2 quarter. Once settled on the lead, Hunt Off The Press led the group to the half in :57.2 and three-quarters in 1:26.3 as Quickaway continued to track from the pocket. When they came off the far turn, Quickaway left the pocket and eventually drew alongside Hunt Off The Press as they made their way into deep-stretch. But Hunt Off The Press was ready for the assault, stayed on task, and maintained his lead to the wire where he won by a neck in 1:55.1. Knoxville (Mark MacDonald) finished third.
Hunt Off The Press ($2.70), owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., has now won two straight NYSS contests and is three-for-five with $202,847 in earnings for trainer Jared Bako.
In addition to his NYSS win, Bartlett swept the two $27,778 Excelsior Series paces for rookie colts and geldings on the program. The first was won by the American Ideal-Southwind Inertia colt Southwind Iron ($3) in 1:54.4 for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick. The second went to the Huntsville-Wiggle Delight colt Johnny Wiggles ($10) in 1:57.3 for trainer Jared Bako and owners John Stamatis, Doug McNair, and James Georgakopoulos.
Bartlett also won the first race with Takemetochurch Deo ($9.10), the second with Maczaffair N ($3.50), and the ninth with Uncle Archie ($5.10). His six wins on the 15-race card brought his seasonal total to 489 in 1,651 starts for a win rate of 29.6 per cent.
Dealin With Dewey ($3.50) wired the field in the $18,750 Open Trot for driver Brett MacDonald and owner-trainer Sara Baillargeon. The gelding, who has gone back and forth between New York and Ontario this year, won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1 for his Guelph, Ont.-based owner. He is now seven-for-19 this year and has not missed the board in nine starts stateside.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday with post time at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)