The action on the track for the first edition of the $1.4 million New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions held at Vernon Downs was hot, despite being interrupted for more than an hour in the middle of the program
due to a transformer fire on the backstretch. Completion of the card was momentarily in doubt, but officials were able get the lights back on in order to race the final four stakes races. The card featured eight $175,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for two- and three-year-olds on Saturday, September 26.
The pause in the program occurred right after the two-year-olds completed their final events, so when the program resumed the sophomore competitors had to race in the rain over a slightly less than fast track, but seemed to be unfazed.
The evening marked the 20th anniversary of the Night of Champions and crowned the year-end champions in each of division. Tim Tetrick won his first New York Sire Stakes championship and was the only driver to win two Sire Stakes finals on the card.
Three-Year-Old Colt Trot
And Away We Go toughed out another tight victory to win his divisional final in 1:54.3, a new stakes record, by a neck. The margin of his last two victories in the New York Sire Stakes were a head and a neck.
Driver Andy Miller directed the Conway Hall colt second-over around the last turn and closed in the stretch to edge out Yonkers Trot champion Judge Joe at the wire.
“The delay, of course, was stressful, but we kept him calm and it didn’t affect him too much,” said trainer Julie Miller. “I was thrilled with his race tonight. He has really gotten good at the right time.”
“He’s definitely a keeper for a while,” Miller added. “He’s shown he has talent on all size tracks, so we’ll hold onto him and stake him next year.”
George Brennan and the Millers own the winner, who was bred by Stormy & Bruiser Stable. He doubled his career winnings to $164,209 with the victory.
Three-Year-Old Colt Pace
After his horse Away We Go won the previous race, George Brennan directed Go Go Solano, a horse he does not have an ownership interest in, to victory in his three-year-old pacing colt final. The pair cut the mile and finished in a career mark 1:51, which also set a new stakes record.
“He has been second the last few races, but they’ve been quality seconds,” said Brennan. “I though he was ready to cut one tonight and I got in front and made them chase me.”
Go Go Solano is trained by Mark Capone for Richard Lombardo and Pasquale Rizzo. The gelded son of Bettors Delight was bred by Ram Racing Stables and now has six victories and $195,748 on his card.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Gift Card continued her winning ways by scoring her third consecutive victory in the final for three-year-old trotting fillies with driver Tim Tetrick aboard. The reinsman steered the winner of two championships on the card. The filly came first-up along the backstretch and drew away to easily win by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3, a new stakes mark.
“After her last start at Yonkers I said she raced better than any horse that has come out of my barn this year,” said trainer Frank Antonacci. “I’m not too hard on her. She had an easy week. I treat her like a thoroughbred and I don’t train her between races.”
The daughter of Credit Winner is owned by KR Breeding, Robert Rudolph and Gary Hoffman. She is scheduled to race next in the Kentucky Filly Futurity at The Red Mile on Friday.
Thomas Hicks bred the filly, who surpassed $250,000 in career earnings with this win.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Bet On Luck used a little luck and a lot of determination to get her nose in front at the wire to win with driver Brian Sears in her divisional final in 1:52.3, a new career mark. Sears came from way off the pace to edge Eagle Way at the finish.
“It looked like there was going to be a little speed in there so I wanted to sit back and see what happened,” explained Sears of his strategy. “My filly was pacing really hard at the wire. She handled very well and was strong tonight.”
This event was the first on the track when racing resumed. Winning driver Brian Sears did not believe the delay had much impact on the competitors. “They are really resilient horses. They were all good on the track and I don’t think it bothered them that much,” he offered.
Bet On Luck is owned by Kovach Stables and trainer George Teague, Jr. The Bettors Delight filly was bred by John Grant.
Two-Year-Old Colt Trot
Jeff Gregory seems to have a way with the Jessica Okusko-trained colt Blacktuxwhitesocks. The son of Credit Winner won for the third time in his career, all three since Gregory took over driving duties, and became the champion of his division with a 1:56.2 victory. The time was a track and stakes record.
“He’s getting good at the right time and I just got lucky to get on him,” said Gregory, who used a three-wide move in the final turn to earn the victory over favourite Shaq Is Back. “I used him hard around the last turn and a lot of horses can do that, but he was very strong and beat a good horse.”
“This is more than a dream come true. I really didn’t expect this tonight,” said owner Wanda Polisseni of Purple Haze Stables. This was the second Sire Stakes champion for the owner, who won her first with trotting filly Shes So Savvy last year (who finished second in her three-year-old final this year).
Blacktuxwhitesocks, who is now done racing for the year, was bred by Valley High Stable.
Two-Year-Old Colt Pace
Despite being sick earlier in the week, Hes Gorgeous showed he was the best of his peers by scoring the ninth win of his career in 1:52 to earn his champion status on Saturday. The time demolished the previous stakes record of 1:55.2.
Driver Jason Bartlett earned his first NYSS Championship by steering the Art Major colt to the top as the field straightened out on the backstretch and coasted home without serious challenge to win by 3-1/2 lengths. Linda Toscano trains the colt, who surpassed $250,000 in career earnings with the win.
“He was sick this week and was having trouble breathing and we had to put him on antibiotics,” explained owner Ken Jacobs. “I was nervous tonight because I wasn’t sure how he’d be. I was worried in the final quarter because if your horse is sick, that’s where they’ll get tired.”
Hes Gorgeous is done racing for the year and his connections have Grand Circuit aspirations for next year. He was a $97,000 yearling and bred by Yankeeland Farms.
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Trainer and co-owner Ray Schnittker was happy to turn over the lines on his talented filly Munis Blue Chip for the Night of Champions to Tim Tetrick and the catch-driver ushered the betting favourite home to a 1:57.3 victory, setting a new track and stakes record.
Tetrick steered the daughter of Credit Winner first-over along the backstretch and eased ahead of the eventual second-place finisher Tuesdays With Mom in mid-stretch. The pair won by 2-1/4 lengths.
“I think these catch-drivers have an edge on me on a big track,” said Schnittker of his decision to put Tetrick up. “On a half mile, I don’t know that it makes a difference, but on a big track they do it all the time and are confident.”
Schnittker, Steven Arnold, Jerry Silva and breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock own the filly.
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Hulas Z Tam, a little filly with a lot of ability, set a new 1:52.3 track and stakes record in winning her final. Trainer and part-owner Patrick Lachance steered the betting favourite first-over along the backstretch and drew away to win by 6-1/4 lengths.
“She’s never been first over before, but I had a lot of confidence in her. She did really well tonight,” said Lachance, who raced the filly exclusively in New York Sire Stakes events this year.
The Bettors Delight filly extended her win streak to six with this victory and pushed her career earnings to $256,478 for owners Z Tam Racing, Margaret Dey and Lachance. Southwind Farms bred the filly.
(Vernon Downs)