Tioga: Buter bags both of Friday's NY Sire Stakes events

Honey's Sweet and R Melina gave driver Tyler Buter trips to the winner's circle after the pair of $57,000 New York Sire Stakes tilts for sophomore trotting fillies on Friday night at Tioga Downs.

Winning Alliance (Todd Ratchford) led the way through fractions of 28, 57 and 1:25 3/5 in the first flight, but Honey's Sweet, who went three-wide from second-over on the last turn, rallied by Winning Alliance in the stretch to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 2/5. Star Attraction (Sarah Svanstedt) finished third.

Trainer Tony Alagna sent out Honey's Sweet for owner/breeder Crawford Farms. The daughter of Chapter Seven has a record of 4-1-2 from 12 outings, has pocketed $73,572 and paid $19.00 to win as an 8-1 offering.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

R Melina improved to three-for-three this year with a 1:54 2/5 tally in the other grouping. She was on top at the 28 second quarter, 57 4/5 half and 1:26 1/5 three-quarters, and a 28 1/5 final kicker got her to the wire a length ahead of pocket-sitter Sister Mary Maude (Joe Bongiorno). Honorable Way (Svanstedt) checked in third.

Another Chapter Seven filly, R Melina, who is trained by John Butenschoen, was bred by Marsh Valley Standardbreds and is owned by M And L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates LLC. R Melina has ten wins, a second and two thirds in 15 appearances, has banked $474,505 and returned $2.30 to win as the 1-9 favorite.