Saratoga Harness: McNair, Bako clean up in Thursday's NY SIre Stakes

Trainer Jared Bako and driver Doug McNair came to town and swept both halves of the New York Sire Stakes races for 2-year-old pacing fillies contested on Thursday evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The heavily-backed Cowgirl Hanover (Huntsville-Code One Hanover-Sportswriter) has been a complete force since kicking off her career back in June and carried a record of four-for-four with her into Thursday's try in the second $74,500 Sire Stakes event. Cowgirl Hanover was patient in the early going before McNair cut her loose past the half. Although the leader Chanceoflightning (Wally Hennessey) continued to pace on with authority, her attempt at holding off the big favorite was futile as the Bako trainee dazzled through a third quarter of 27 4/5 en route to a 1:54 2/5 score that came by a margin of 2 1/2 lengths. Chanceoflightning finished second to the big favorite while Shes A Streaker (Jordan Stratton) earned the show spot.

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Back in the opening $73,100 split, The Last Martini (Huntsville-Martinique-Rock N Roll Heaven) sprung a mild upset. McNair situated The Last Martini into the pocket in the early going to ride the coattails of the heavily-favored Send It Down Slim (Mark MacDonald). That 1-9 favorite carved out the fractions and had her way on the front-end before being confronted around the final turn by The Last Martini, who wound up getting the last laugh, cruising by in the stretch to score in 1:54 1/5.

The Last Martini paid $12.80 to win in the slight upset of the big favorite Send It Down Slim, who finished a solid second. Lonely Ghost (Jordan Stratton) was third.

Live racing continues on Friday evening at Saratoga with action beginning at 5 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Saratoga Casino Hotel)--