Hes Watching Sets World Record

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Published: August 9, 2013 10:35 pm EDT

Coming into Friday night’s New York Sire Stakes event for two-year-old colt pacers, the talk of the state has been about Hes Watching, who has posted two impressive sire stakes wins at Saratoga and Buffalo after making breaks at the start.

When the night was over, the story got more impressive after Hes Watching (Jim Morrill Jr.) minded his manners on Friday night at Tioga Downs and erased the world record for two-year-old colt pacers, previously held by Rock N Roll Heaven (Dan Dube), of 1:50.3 when he cruised to victory in 1:50 flat.

Leaving from post position number four, Hes Watching took his time working his way to the front through an opening quarter of :27. As the field headed towards the half-mile mark of the race, Hes Watching kept a snug hold of Morrill and continued through some brisk fractions, posting a half-mile mark in :54.4. Twin B Speedo (Yannick Gingras) was doing all he could do to keep within striking distance sitting in the two-hole as the field went by three-quarters in 1:22.4. Around the final turn, Morrill let the son of American Ideal and Baberhood pace the final quarter and quickly step away from the rest of the field to win by six and a quarter lengths in a world record of 1:50.

David Menary of Cheltenham, Ont. trains and co-owns Hes Watching with Brad Gray of Dundas, Ont. and Michael Guerriero of Puslinch, Ont.

“He is such a nice colt and he is just so fast it is unbelievable," said Morrill following the victory. "I asked him to go in the stretch there tonight a little bit, but he could have just as easily gone in [1:]49 tonight, he is just so fast it’s amazing.”

Morrill and Menary teamed up to win another division with Gray's homebred Major Trick (1:53.2).

Canadian-owned Stay Up Late (1:52.4) was also a winner in rein to David Miller for trainer Casie Coleman and owners West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ont. and Christine Calhoun of Chatham, Ont.

The other division went to Erv Miller trainee Neat (1:53.2) and Marcus Miller.

(With files from Tioga Downs)

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