Tioga: American Courage triumphs again in NY Sire Stakes

American Courage stayed hot on Saturday evening at Tioga Downs, upping his record to five wins from five appearances following a 1:51 3/5 score in the second of two New York Sire Stakes splits for 2-year-old male pacers. I'll Drink To That broke his maiden in the other section.

Matt Kakaley, who drove at The Meadows earlier in the afternoon, was able to make it to Tioga to steer American Courage in the $52,200 dash, and he would brush him from fourth to first beyond the 27 second opening quarter. American Courage kept control through the 56 second half-mile marker and the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, then paced away in a 27 2/5 final kicker, winning by 4 1/4 lengths. Sauvignon Bluechip (Tyler Buter) finished second, with Major Makover (Wally Hennessey) third.

A colt by American Ideal, American Courage is trained by Travis Alexander for owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. American Courage, who has now pocketed $119,908, is the first foal out of the Art Major mare Nota Fool Bluechip (1:55 2/5, $17,750), a full sister to two millionaires in Feel Like A Fool (1:49 3/5, $1,269,988) and Fool Me Once (1:48 1/5, $1,111,642). The odds-on favorite, American Courage paid $2.70 to win.

Back in the first $53,100 division, Sexy Blue Chip (Hennessey) clicked off a first quarter in 28 seconds, but Major Bean (Jason Bartlett) was out and moving from the pocket at that point and took charge. Major Bean was still in front at the 57 3/5 half, but I'll Drink To That (Jim Morrill Jr.) began a first-over bid going to that point, and he would take the lead on the outside nearing the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters. I'll Drink To That put Major Bean away for good midway through the final bend and kept clear to the wire, prevailing by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:53 2/5. Carrythetorchman (Marcus Miller) was the runner-up and Sexy Blue Chip came in third.

Chris Ryder trains I'll Drink To That, another American Ideal colt, for owners Craig Henderson, Lawrence Minowitz, Robert Mondillo, and Oompa's Farm Inc. I'll Drink To That, bred by Winbak Farm, was a $75,000 buy at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is out of the Ponder mare Margarita Monday (1:55 2/5, $21,851), making him a full brother to Tequila Monday (1:49 4/5, $993,712). I'll Drink To That scored his first victory in his third try and returned $14.60 to win as a 6-1 offering.