Hes Gorgeous continued his reign of terror in the New York Sire Stakes on Friday night at Tioga Downs for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers
.
Over a track rated sloppy, and after a 10 minute rain delay, Jason Bartlett sent the two-year-old son of Art Major-So Ravishing to the front past the quarter pole in :28.3. The duo slowed things down through a middle half in 1:00.3, with the second choice Jo Pas Fod (Jim Morrill, Jr.) sitting on their back. Bartlett asked Hes Gorgeous to pace through the final panel and the colt responded posting a last quarter in :27.4 to trip the teletimer in 1:57.
It was the seventh win in nine seasonal starts for Hes Gorgeous, who increased his earnings to more than $133,000. Linda Toscano trains Hes Gorgeous for Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville, New York, who purchased the colt for $97,000. Jim Morrill, Jr. and Jo Pas Fod finished second, while Shinedupnreadytogo (Matt Kakaley) finished third.
Bettor Again posted the fastest mile of the night for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers with Jim Morrill, Jr. in the bike. Morrill was sitting fourth on the rail as the field passed the quarter pole in :28.1. Morrill then pulled to the outside and sent Bettor Again to the front and right down the front end through fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.1 before sprinting away from the field in :28.4. The mile of 1:55 was just a fifth of a second off the lifetime mark for Bettor Again that was set at Tioga Downs on August 16.
The two-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Jated Love is trained by Noel Daley for Patricia Stable of Massapequa, New York. It was the third win in six seasonal starts for Bettor Again, who increased his bankroll to more than $100,000 with the victory.
Grabbing the victory in the third division for freshman pacing colts was Bluff Point, with Jim Morrill, Jr., who inherited the lead as the favoured Flexjet (Dan Cappello, Jr.) made a costly break around the final turn. The mile of 1:55.3 was a new lifetime mark for the two-year-old son of Pro Bono Best-Hannah Road, who is trained by Ron Burke for the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and the JJK stable.
Capturing the two $90,469 divisions for freshman pacing fillies were Hulas Z Tam and Mike Lachance in 1:57, and Lady Major and Jason Bartlett in 1:55.4, after being placed the winner. Jim Morrill, Jr. and Maxs Leading Lady finished first, but were placed second do to interference in the stretch with Bartlett and Lady Major.
Tioga Downs continues live racing action on Saturday, September 12 at 6:50 p.m. and features the $127,000 Artiscape Pace that includes World Champions Hana Hanover (George Brennan) and Southwind Tempo (Tim Tetrick) along with double millionaire Darlins Delight (Yannick Gingras).
(Tioga Downs)