Batavia: Bomb Hugger, Gertrude victorious again in NY Sire Stakes

Bomb Hugger and Gertrude both backed up their victories in the New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga on July 6 by prevailing in the pair of splits on Wednesday night at Batavia Downs.

Driven by Anthony MacDonald in the first $51,300 division, Bomb Hugger followed in the pocket behind pace-setter Iluvm4ymiumiu's (Andrew McCarthy) through stations of 28 4/5, 59, and 1:28 4/5. When first-over prompter Pioneer AS (Jim Morrill Jr.) made a break on the last turn, that gave MacDonald room to come to the outside, and after being fed clear racetrack, Bomb Hugger was able to chase down Iluvmymiumiu's to win by a length and a half in 1:58 2/5. Gettinmystepsin (Andy Miller) was the third-place finisher.

Trained by Ryan Swift, Bomb Hugger is a daughter of Chapter Seven. She was bred by Order By Stable, was a $32,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase by thestable.ca, and her dam, the Cantab Hall mare Stylemaker, is a half-sister to Patriarch Hanover ($325,466). Bomb Hugger, who is now three-for-three in her career, has pocketed $53,033 and paid $5.40 to win as the favorite.

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In the other $50,400 flight, Seven On The Rocks (John Stark Jr.) stepped to the front from post one and led through soft fractions of 30 2/5, 1:01 1/5, and 1:31 1/5 with Gertrude (A. Miller) in the two-hole. Miller vacated the cones with Gertrude on the final bend, and even though Seven On The Rocks had plenty left in the tank after the easy tempo, Gertrude was able to surge by late to score by a quarter of a length in 1:59 3/5. Cranberry Lake (Scott Zeron) was the third-place finisher.

Julie Miller trains Gertrude, a filly from the first crop of Devious Man, for Andy Miller Stable Inc. Gertrude, who was bred by Millstream Stable LLC. and Aldebaran Park Inc., was a $15,000 purchase at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale and is the first foal out of the Broadway Hall mare Ophelia. Gertrude's second dam Mariongotchocolate, by Chocolatier, is a half-sister to Marion Marauder (1:50 2/5, $3,390,723). Gertrude has banked $49,633 to go with her two victories from two appearances, and she returned $3.10 to win as the 1-2 choice.