Eight $55,000 divisions went postward in the $440,000 New York Sire Stakes Excelsior finals that were held at Batavia Downs on Wednesday night (Sept. 13) and several streaking horses were victorious again and had the support of the betting public.
The two-year-old trotting filly Dozen (Chapter Seven-Sequin) drafted third for Tyler Buter behind the entry of Barn Dreamer (Jason Bartlett) and Barn CJ (Kevin Cummings) from the start to three-quarters where Buter tipped her and trotted towards the front. At the top of the stretch, Dozen was in full flight and bolted home to a 3-1/4 length win in 1:58.2.
It was the fifth straight win for Dozen ($2.80), who is owned and bred by Diamond Creek Racing and trained by Marcus Melander.
Then the two-year-old pacing colt Pop It (Huntsville-Pop The Tags) left hard from post one for Mark Macdonald and led the entire race. While leading by 1-1/2 lengths, Pop It cut quarters of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27.4 before turning for home and holding off the pocket-sitting Spectacular Plus (Jason Bartlett) to win by one-half length in 1:56.
It was the fourth straight win for Pop It ($2.70), who is owned by Schnittker Arnold, Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Ted Gewertz. Ray Schnittker trains Pop It, who was bred by Kathryn Weed and Kenneth Weed.
From the sophomore class, three-year-old pacing filly Rec Time (Huntsville-Ms Malicious) and Jason Bartlett left for position from post five and dropped in second behind Light And Tight (Jordan Stratton), then and followed that one for seven-eighths of the mile while Sweet Cheyenne (Marcus Miller) applied pressure to the leader from the outside. At the top of the stretch, the passing lane opened and Rec Time paced away down the lane to a two-length win in 1:55.1, with a sharp :27.3 final panel.
Rec Time ($3.90), who set Batavia Downs track record for three-year-old pacing fillies earlier this year, won her sixth race in only eight 2023 outings for owners D Racing Stable and Jason O'Sullivan. Deborah Daguet trains the filly bred by Fair Winds Farm, Mark Mullen and Steve Jones.
And then three-year-old trotting filly Serendipity (Chapter Seven-Vida De Vie) got away fourth for Marcus Miller while Five Fish Species (Mark MacDonald) led the field. Woolco (Jim Morrill Jr.) pulled first-over at the half and Miller followed with Serendipity. Halfway through the last turn, Serendipity went three-wide and then under a line drive, pulled away to a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:57.1.
It was the ninth win of the year for Serendipity ($6), who is trained by George Ducharme and owned by W. Donovan, Jim Winske, Stephen Michaels and Joe Sbrocco. Serendipity was bred by Joie De Vie Farm.
Jason Barltett won three Excelsior finals while Tyler Buter won two.
The rest of the stakes winners are listed below:
Two-year-old pacing fillies
Ideal Skies (American Ideal-No Clouds Bluechip)
Driver – Alek Chartrand
Owner – United Process Control Co.
Trainer – Alek Chartrand
Breeder – Barbara Berger, Richard Carney, Farrell Carney
Time – 1:56.4
Mutuel – $6.40
Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings
Sir Pinocchio (Mets Hall-Lady Cromwell)
Driver – Jason Bartlett
Owner – Carolyn Atherton
Trainer – Ed Hart
Breeder – Carolyn Atherton
Time – 1:59
Mutuel – $21.40
Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings
Boston Bound (Boston Red Rocks-Ashleyswayrhighway)
Driver – Jim Morrill Jr.
Owner – Rick Berks, Peter Blood
Trainer – Mike Deters
Breeder – Winbak Farms
Time – 1:55.3
Mutuel – $6.60
Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings
Seven Sins (Chapter Seven-Isolde)
Driver – Tyler Buter
Owner – Pollack Racing
Trainer – Jeff Cullipher
Breeder – Crawford Farms
Time – 1:57.3
Mutuel – $7.40
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $2,142 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the race 13.
(With files from Batavia Downs)