Buffalo: Chapheart captures NY Sire Stakes event

Chapheart was well-rated on the lead by trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer and collected a 2:00 3/5 victory in Wednesday afternoon's $115,600 New York Sire Stakes contest for sophomore trotting colts and geldings at Buffalo Raceway.

Starting from post four in the field of six and dispatched as the even-money favorite, Smedshammer left quickly with Chapheart and was able to clear pole-sitter Valentine Express (John MacDonald) for command early on the first turn. Meanwhile, second choice Debs Prince Hall (Alek Chartrand), who floated out from post five and then began to advance two-wide towards Chapheart to try and challenge for the top spot, made a break coming to the 30 2/5 opening quarter, eliminating him from contention.

With his main rival out of the picture, Smedshammer backed down the tempo to just 1:01 3/5 at the half and 1:32 2/5 at three-quarters, setting up a last quarter sprint of 28 1/5 that got Chapheart to the wire a length and three-quarters to the good. Castle House (Kasper Foget) was second after going first-over from fourth racing to the half-mile marker, and Valentine Express ended up third from the pocket.

"I didn't have any mindset if I was going to race him from behind or on the lead," Smedshammer said after the race. "I was just letting him trot out. I didn't think I'd get to the front that easily.

"I got away with soft fractions and then sprinted home."

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A Chapter Seven gelding bred by Steve Jones and Fair Winds Farm Inc., Chapheart is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC. A finalist in the New York Sire Stakes program last year, Chapheart has compiled a record of 2-2-3 from ten starts, and he has now pocketed $96,847. He paid $4.10 to win.

--quote courtesy of Buffalo Raceway--