Saratoga Harness: Sears, Melander clean up in NYSS for rookie trotting fillies

The New York Sire Stakes season for 2-year-olds began on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel, and it would be Brian Sears and Marcus Melander winning both events with Canterbury Hanover and Kayleigh S.

In the opening $78,700 division Canterbury Hanover left from post six and led early, but she would yield to sit behind Defiant Lady (Jason Bartlett) after the 29 second opening quarter. Late on the second turn, Sears brought Canterbury Hanover back to the outside, and she would retake the top spot nearing the 59 3/5 half. It was all Canterbury Hanover from there, as she sailed through three-quarters in 1:29 4/5 and then pulled away in a 29 1/5 final kicker, defeating J Wow (Jim Marohn Jr.) by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:59. All The Rage (Ake Svanstedt) came in third.

Canterbury Hanover is a daughter of Chapter Seven bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and owned by Holly Lane Stud East LTD. Canterbury Hanover, who fetched $110,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, was second in her one baby race at the Meadowlands on June 4, and she is the first foal out of the Majestic Son mare Charmed Life (1:52 2/5, $1,446,009). Canterbury Hanover was the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.90 to win.

The other $77,300 flight saw Kayleigh S and Sears post fractions of 29 3/5, 1:00 1/5, and 1:31. Kayleigh S repelled a first-over bid from Gigi Hanover (Svanstedt) going to three-quarters, put her away for good on the far turn, and went on to tally by a length and a quarter in 2:00 1/5. Bourbon On Ice (John Stark Jr.) crossed the wire in second after a pocket trip, but she interfered with Gigi Hanover while angling out in the upper part of the stretch, and she was placed back to fourth. That elevated U Gurl (Jordan Stratton) from third to second and Gigi Hanover from fourth to third.

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A full sister (Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S) to millionaire Joviality S, Kayleigh S is owned by Courant Inc. and was bred by their AM Bloodstock. Kayleigh S also finished as the runner-up in one baby race effort at the Meadowlands on the 4th of June, and she returned $5.80 to win as the 9-5 second choice.