Race favorites Napoleon, Big Apple Deli, Make It Happen, General Royal and Hall of Fame driver John Campbell didn't disappoint in Tuesday night's $233,930 New York Sires Stakes action for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Vernon Downs.
Napoleon turned in a powerful 1:55 score for driver Stephane Bouchard. The recent winner of the $605,854 Yonkers Trot, earned a new speed-badge and his fourth score in six current outings for trainer Noel Daley and owners Sidney Korn, Kenneth Tucci, Lawrence Thomases and John Guamiere.
Big Apple Deli went gate-to-wire to win his assignment in a time of 1:55.3 with John Campbell at the controls. It was a lifetime best performance for the trotter and his fifth tally in eight starts this season. Hall of Famer John Simpson Jr. trains the trotter for owner Lon Frocione.
Make It Happen was unchallenged in his division en route to a 1:56.3 mile for Ray Schnittker. The trotter, who tied the track's 1:54.4 record for sophomore colt trotters on May 26, improved his 2008 summary line to 3-2-1 after seven appearances for owners Howard Taylor, Jack Adkins, Eat My Dust Stables and Daisy Acres.
General Royal rallied from sixth at the half to win his tilt in 1:57 for driver John Campbell. It was a new lifetime mark for the Linda Toscano trainee, who has won two of five this year for owner Ken Jacobs.
The evening's other NYSS winners were Colies (1:56.3) and Manfromnantucket (1:57.3).
(Vernon Downs)