Saratoga Harness: New York Sire Stakes regular season concludes

The stage is now set for next Saturday's Day of Champions at MGM Yonkers Raceway after Mister Mellby and Sir Pinocchio captured the pair $82,500 New York Sire Stakes contests for 3-year-old male trotters at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Fly By (Jason Bartlett) was the favorite in the first split but made a break prior to the opening quarter, leaving Mister Mellby (Tyler Buter) on the engine through stations of 28, 57 4/5 and 1:27 1/5. Super Duper Cooper (Wally Hennessey) went into the passing lane from the pocket in the stretch and had trot, but Mister Mellby kept him at bay by half a length in 1:56 1/5 over the sloppy surface. Victor Laszlo (Mark MacDonald) checked in third after a first-over attempt.

A Chapter Seven colt bred by owner Mellby Gard Inc., Mister Mellby is trained by Ake Svanstedt. He has a summary of 2-3-2 from 11 outings, has put away $99,209 and paid $20.00 after being sent off as the longest shot on the board at 9-1.

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Bartlett made amends in the other division as his charge Sir Pinocchio was on top at the 28 1/5 quarter, 58 2/5 half and 1:27 1/5 three-quarters, then came home in 28 seconds to defeat pocket-sitter Wild Ticket (Brett Beckwith) by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:55 1/5. Keep Asking (Buter) was third.

Sir Pinocchio, a gelding by Met's Hall, was sent out by trainer Ed Hart for owner/breeder Carolyn Atherton. This was his ninth lifetime victory, he sent his earnings to $465,353 and returned $4.50 to win as the second choice.