Henry Hill, making the first stakes appearance of his career, won the faster of two New York Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old colt pacers on Saturday night at Tioga Downs in a lifetime-best 1:50 1/5.
Driven by Marcus Miller in the $61,300 race, Henry Hill came first-over out of fifth at the 54 2/5 half and engaged pace-setter and 3-5 favorite Outkast Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) at the 1:22 three-quarters. After racing side-by-side through the final turn, Henry Hill took over turning for home and went on to down the public choice by a length and a half. Outrajus Blue Chip (Jim Meittinis) finished in the third spot.
Tony Alagna trains Henry Hill, a colt by Roll With Joe, for owner Tom Hill. Henry Hill, who made his pari-mutuel debut on August 4 at the Meadowlands, has won three of his four starts and has banked $42,850. Henry Hill was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.80 to win.
In the other $62,400 split 3-2 favorite Pointomygranson (Jim Marohn Jr.) controlled the tempo through fractions of 27 1/5, 56 and 1:23 1/5, but pocket-sitter and 9-5 second favorite Cultural Paradise (Morrill Jr.) out-kicked him in the lane to win by a quarter of a length in 1:51 3/5, which now stands as his lifetime mark. Serious Major (Jim Taggart Jr.) rallied from fifth to third in the final quarter.
Cultural Paradise is an American Ideal gelding trained by Larry Remmen for owner Brad Grant. This was his ninth victory from 21 career efforts, and he has now earned $163,663. Cultural Paradise returned $5.60 to win.