Saratoga Harness: Variegated vicious in New York Sire Stakes romp

Variegated and Seven Layer came out on top in two $82,500 New York Sire Stakes races for sophomore colt and gelding trotters on Saturday evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

After missing out on a spot in the Hambletonian final following a fifth-place finish in his elimination, Variegated (Jason Bartlett) returned to the Empire State and knocked a fifth of a second off the track record for a 3-year-old colt trotter. He led through panels of 28 4/5, 58 1/5 and 1:26 3/5 before he kicked out a 27 4/5 final panel to defeat Karinchak (Mark MacDonald) by 6 3/4 lengths in 1:54 2/5. Seismic Step (Jordan Stratton) finished third.

A Chapter Seven colt bred by Order By Stable, Variegated is trained by Marcus Melander for owner S R F Stable. Variegated has five wins, five seconds and a third from 15 career starts, has earned $446,420 and paid $2.20 to win.

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In the other grouping Banksy Monkey (Wally Hennessey) led early but was overtaken by a pocket-pulling Seven Layer (Niko Karna) beyond the 29 second opening quarter. Karna backed the half down to just 1:00 1/5, and favorites BJM's Lil Man (Tyler Buter) and Fadeaway Hanover (Brett Beckwith) got going first-up and second-over from third and fourth on the way to the 1:29 2/5 three-quarters.

Seven Layer still had plenty left after that 1:00 2/5 middle-half, though, and repelled BJM's Lil Man around the final bend and to the wire, downing him by three-quarters of a length in 1:57 3/5. Fadeaway Hanover made up some ground but not enough and had to settle for third.

Noel Daley trains Seven Layer, a Millstream Inc.-bred gelding by Chapter Seven, for owners Allister Stables LLC., Joe Sbrocco & Jaf Racing, L. A. Express Stable LLC. and Sjoblom Racing Inc. Seven Layer broke his maiden in career start number 17, has put away $180,468 and returned $19 to win as the 8-1 fourth choice in the field of five.