Saratoga Harness: Boyd bags another big one in Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial
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Just one week removed from the biggest driving victory of his career, Braxten Boyd found himself in the winner's circle again on Saturday night, converting a pocket trip to paydirt and upsetting 1-2 favorite Desperate Man with Binge On Yankee in Saturday's Grade 2 $250,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial at Saratoga Harness. Boyd guided the longshot to a two-hole trip and then found room late to the inside to surge past the heavy favorite.
Binge On Yankee left hard enough from the pole position for Boyd to yield to the favored Desperate Man before the first quarter. Spring Inhis Step A and Brett Beckwith had left hard as well but found themselves parked as Matt Kakaley, driving the favorite, made no attempt to grab up, reaching the quarter in 27 seconds and indicating that's where he wanted to stay.
Wally Hennessey saw what was happening in front of him and quickly sent Ervin Hanover on the outside to follow second-over cover, with Dunkin' soon joining the outer flow. Kakaley had Desperate Man and the field under control, hitting the half in 55 2/5 with Kakaley looking behind to see if there was any movement to threaten. Off the third turn Spring Inhis Step A started to tire and soon Ervin Hanover would be sent three-wide, but Desperate Man appeared strong, passing three-quarters in 1:23 and rounding the final turn in command.
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In the homestretch Desperate Man was put to a drive and had the horses to his right flank well off, but Boyd found a seam in the passing lane, put Binge On Yankee, a 5-year-old son of Stay Hungry to a drive, and got just the response he was looking for, edging the favorite in the final stride of a 1:51 1/5 mile. Desperate Man held second with Howlenthehills late on the scene for third.
Todd Luther trains Binge On Yankee for Greg Luther Racing. The longest shot on the board despite drawing the pole position, Binge On Yankee returned $89.50 for the victory.
Fragment remained undefeated after capturing the $74,500 first New York Sire Stakes division for 2-year-old male pacers by open lengths in a 1:54 3/5 career-best mile. Jason Bartlett guided the Huntsville-sired colt for trainer Per Engblom.
Bartlett would come back to capture the $75,900 second division, but it wasn't easy for Quickaway, who gave up the lead to second choice Hunt Off The Press before the three-quarters but rallied back late to get the 1:55 3/5 victory over that rival. Blake MacIntosh trains the son of American Ideal, who won his second straight career race without defeat.