Vernon Downs will host two $56,500 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) events for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on a special Labor Day matinee on Monday (Sept. 3).
The first division features three-time winner Major Blake (Jason Bartlett) as the 5-2 morning-line choice. Matthew Bencic, Howard Berke and trainer Sam Schillaci own the Art Major-Bet Your Life colt, who has paced his way to two NYSS wins at Yonkers and one at Tioga Downs. The second morning line choice in the first division is Brett Pelling trainee Reigning Deo (Jim Morrill Jr.) at 7-2. The Rock N Roll Heaven-Little Miss K colt owned by Deo Volente Farms, Pelling Racing and Brian Gordon is two-for-four with a NYSS win at Saratoga.
The first division will also include four-time NYSS winner Melodies Major (Tyler Buter) at 9-2. The Art-Major-Hilarious colt is owned by Martin Scharf and trained by Mark Ford.
In the second division, the 5-2 morning-line favuorite is Hickfromfrenchlick (Ray Schnittker). The So Surreal-My Girls A Star colt is owned by Nolamaura Racing LLC, Thomas Spatorico and trainer Schnittker. He has three wins in four starts, including a big win in the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace at Yonkers.
The second morning-line choice is the Erv Miller-trained Cub Fan (Marcus Miller). The gelding by So Surreal-Pardon is owned by Michael Anderson. Cub Fan is one-for-three in his young career, winning a Geers Stakes division at Tioga Downs.
The 11-race card at Vernon Downs starts at 1:05 p.m. For more information, go to www.vernondowns.com.
(Vernon Downs)