Saratoga Harness: Justice quickest in NY Sire Stakes action

Justice improved his record to three-for-three by winning the first of a trio of New York Sire Stakes races for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel in 1:58 1/5. Valentine Express and Molotov Cocktail took the other divisions.

Driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt in the $46,166 affair, Justice led through well-rated fractions of 29 3/5, 1:00 1/5, and 1:29 3/5, then kept rallying pocket-sitter Cool Papa Bell (Jason Bartlett) at bay through the stretch to win by a head. Chapheart (Corey Callahan) was the third-place finisher.

Svanstedt also trains and co-owns Justice, a Chapter Seven colt bred by Diamond Creek Farm and purchased for $62,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, with partners Little E LLC., Torbjorn Swahn Inc., and Myfab Inc. Justice, who was victorious in first round action in the New York Sire Stakes at Yonkers on June 28 and in his second leg at Tioga on July 18, has pocketed $63,416. Justice is the sixth foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Religulous ($128,926, 1:55 3/5) and is a half-brother to Apostles Creed ($217,125, 1:57 3/5). Justice paid $2.30 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

Heavily-favored Quincy Market (Callahan) strolled through a 29 3/5 quarter, 1:00 2/5 half, and a 1:30 three-quarters in the next $47,067 flight, but he weakened in the lane, which allowed pocket-sitter Valentine Express (Wally Hennessey) to collar and then overtake him en route to winning by a length in 1:59 4/5. Quincy Market had to settle for second, and T Rex Blue Chip (Joe Bongiorno) checked in third.

Jessica Okusko trains Valentine Express, a colt by Chapter Seven who was purchased for $30,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, for owners Salvatore Vullo and James De Armond. This was the second win for Valentine Express, who was bred by Blue Chip Farms LLC., Jordan Farkas, and Jeffrey Rabinowitz, and he has now stashed away $25,468. Valentine Express is the fifth foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Cantata, making him a full brother to Amanda Blue Chip (1:56 1/5, $75,048), and he returned $20.80 to win as a 9-1 shot.

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The final $47,067 test saw Debs Prince Hall (Alek Chartand) go to the point from post one, but he would be overtaken by Molotov Cocktail (Brian Sears) before the 29 1/5 quarter. From there, Molotov Cocktail was unchallenged through a 58 4/5 half and a 1:28 4/5 three-quarters, and he coasted home in 29 4/5 to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:58 3/5. Debs Prince Hall held second over Tanglewild Road (Jordan Stratton).

Another colt by Chapter Seven, Molotov Cocktail is trained by Linda Toscano. Richard Gutnick and Tom Pontone bred Molotov Cocktail and now share ownership of him with partner Gary Cocco. He's the first foal out of the Kadabra mare Moonlight Cocktail ($137,233, 1:53 2/5) and has three wins and a third from five trips behind the gate. He has banked $74,168 and paid $3.10 to win as the 1-2 favorite.