Meadowlands: Daley, McCarthy double in NJSS finals for 2YO trotters

Sig Sauer brushed to the top before the half and then held second choice My Way at bay in the final yards to capture the $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old colts and geldings on Saturday at the Meadowlands. Andrew McCarthy guided the son of Muscle Hill to a career-best 1:53 3/5 mile.

McCarthy took a tuck in the early stages as Hankins Hanover and David Miller took control from the pole position, but My Way, with Tim Tetrick, had the front before the 27 4/5 opening quarter was passed. McCarthy then put Sig Sauer in motion to clear command at the 56 3/5 half call before he rated the third quarter to 1:25 1/5 under some pressure from Hankins Hanover.

In the stretch McCarthy kept the pylons closed and used Hankins Hanover to keep My Way locked in the pocket. Late in the stretch Hankins Hanover retreated, and Tetrick angled My Way to challenge but was unable to overtake the winner, settling for second. Hankins Hanover followed home in third.

Sir Sauer is undefeated in two lifetime starts for trainer Noel Daley and owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing, Allister Stables and Caviart Farms.

"He's still pretty green," said McCarthy following the victory. It sounded like he (Tetrick/My Way) had a lot of trot. Luckily my colt was good enough to hold on."

Sent off as the 6-5 choice Sig Sauer returned $4.60 to win.

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Daley and McCarthy then went on to sweep the Sire Stakes finals when Buy A Round captured the $240,000 championship for 2-year-old trotting fillies in 1:55.

The McCarthy brothers were active in the opening quarter, with Buy A Round securing the lead early and yielding to Walcango with Todd McCarthy in the bike. Walcango cut the fractions of 27 3/5 and 57 for the half before the outer tier began to get in action. Special Talent and Dexter Dunn moved coverless, followed by Soiree Hanover, but the flow of cover stalled as Walcango hit three-quarters in 1:26 and tried to open up on the field.

Buy A Round tipped from the pocket and secured the front quickly in the stretch but was under attack from Sunkist Beauty and Ake Svanstedt, as well as Soiree Hanover and Tim Tetrick, but the Walner-sired Buy A Round dug in gamely in the late stages to secure the victory. Sunkist Beauty won a close photo with Soiree Hanover for the place spot.

"Todd (McCarthy) stole some easy fractions, and it worked out good for her," said trainer Noel Daley. "I always liked her, she's a little trotting machine."

Owned and bred by Fred Hertrich, Buy A Round was a winner for the second time in three career starts and equaled her career-best mile with the victory. Buy A Round returned $11.40 to win.

"The market didn’t like her as much as we did," said Hertrich. "But Noel did."