Batavia: Town Gossip equals track record in NYSS score

Three-year-old pacers of both sexes headed to Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening for New York Sire Stakes action, and it would be Town Gossip who stole the show, tying the record for a sophomore gelding when he took the second $55,000 split for the boys in 1:52 2/5.

Driven by Joe Bongiorno, Town Gossip worked his way around Major Bean (Matt Kakaley) for the lead racing to the 27 3/5 opening quarter and continued to show the way to the half, which went up in 56 seconds flat. Southwind Petyr (Jason Bartlett) tried a first-over attack out of fourth coming off the third turn, but Town Gossip accelerated to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters and around the final bend to blunt that bid, and Town Gossip cruised through the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Mullinax (Jim Morrill Jr.), with Major Bean back in third.

The clocking matched American Mercury's mark of 1:52 2/5 set on August 4, 2019 when he was victorious in a New York Sire Stakes contest.

Town Gossip, who was bred by Winbak Farm, is an American Ideal gelding trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owner Robert Weinstein. This was Town Gossip's sixth win from 16 career starts, and he has now earned $247,033. He paid $3.50 to win as the heavy favorite.

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In the other $55,000 tilt for the colts and geldings, I'll Drink To That (Morrill Jr.) put up stations of 27 1/5, 56 2/5, and 1:25 1/5, but King James Express (Bartlett) went first-up from third coming to three-quarters, advanced into second and battled with I'll Drink To That on the last turn, then forged his way by through the stretch drive to prevail by half a length in 1:53 4/5. I'll Drink To That had to settle for second, and Bottle Rocket (Mike Whelan) finished third.

Last year's New York Sire Stakes champion, King James Express is co-owned by trainer Mark Harder in partnership with Deena Frost, Wayne Carleton, and Dean Lockhart. King James Express, an Art Major gelding bred by Dr. Greg Dey, has a record of 6-0-4 from 20 lifetime appearances, and he has now pocketed $290,806. He returned $6.50 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

Summer Rae (Bartlett) went down the road through panels of 27 3/5, 56 3/5, and 1:24 4/5 in the opening $58,000 division for the fillies and fended off pocket-sitter Party Queen (Kakaley) through the lane to score by a quarter of a length in 1:54. DC Batgirl (Marcus Miller) finished well to get third.

The victorious filly by Roll With Joe is co-owned by trainer Tom Fanning in partnership with Kathleen Whitaker, Charles Rowe, and Paul Lang. Summer Rae, bred by Flintlock Farm Inc., posted her fifth career victory, and she has now banked $127,937. She paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite.

Heart Of Mine (Scott Zeron) continued her excellent season in the second $57,000 section. After leading through fractions of 28 2/5, 58 1/5, and 1:26 2/5, Heart Of Mine sprinted home in 27 2/5 to defeat pocket-sitter Tava (Kakaley) by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:53 4/5. Easy To Please (Morrill Jr.) collected third.

Linda Toscano trains Heart Of Mine, a daughter of Roll With Joe bred by Brittany Farms LLC., for owners The Bay's Stable LLC., Radio Racing Stable, Fred Wallace, and Camelot Stable Inc. Heart Of Mine has won in eight of nine appearances in 2021, and she has nine lifetime triumphs from 20 career starts. She has put away $308,331 and returned $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.