Tioga: Chapter Seven progeny shine in New York Sire Stakes

Three-year-old trotters were at Tioga Downs for New York Sire Stakes races on Friday evening. Fillies competed in one $123,900 event, while the boys were split into two $59,100 divisions.

In the filly contest, R Ro (Tyler Buter) worked out a second-over trip through fractions of 27, 57 and 1:25 but was left first-over when Sharp Seven (Jeff Gregory) took command from first-up past three-quarters. Despite losing the helmet, R Ro kept going forward, and was able to wear down Sharp Seven late to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:53 3/5. Lauren's Chapter (Niko Karna) closed for third.

John Butenschoen trains R Ro, a daughter of Chapter Seven bred by Crawford Farms, for owners M And L DE/Armitage Farm. She has a summary of 3-1-5 from 18 starts, has earned $144,454 and paid $7.02 to win.

Highway Six (Gregory) was in front at the 27 1/5 quarter, 57 1/5 half and 1:25 three-quarters in the first tilt for the colts and geldings with Titans Mischief (Matt Kakaley) in the pocket and Read The Room (Sarah Svanstedt) in the three-hole. When Titans Mischief came to the outside on the last turn, that allowed Read The Room to inherit the two-hole, and then Titans Mischief faded, which allowed Read The Room to angle out in the lane.

Highway Six had the jump on Read The Room, but Read The Room went to work in the lane and was able to vault past Highway Six in the closing strides, defeating him by a neck in 1:53 2/5. Twin B Seven Sins (Karna) advanced from sixth to third in the last quarter.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt also co-owns the victorious Winbak Farm-bred Chapter Seven colt with partners Little E LLC., B Nasstrom Holding Inc. and Nils Munkhaugen. He has three victories and four thirds from 12 attempts, has banked $120,089 and returned $13.36 to win.

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Silverstein (Kakaley) took charge nearing the 27 4/5 quarter in the other split for the colts and geldings, and after he put up middle-half panels of 57 2/5 and 1:25 4/5, he closed in 27 4/5 to triumph by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:53 3/5. AI (Buter) was second from the pocket and Seven Grand (Sarah Svanstedt) collected third.

Sent out by Matt Burkholder for owners Dark Horse Farm LLC., Silverstein is a gelded son of Chapter Seven and was bred by Brittany Farms. Now with a record of 6-5-2 from 15 outings, Silverstein has put away $449,890 and paid $2.64 to win.

Winning the $20,000 New York Excelsior Series dashes were:

--Chapter Of Life (a Chapter Seven gelding bred by Order By Stable, paid $28.12 to win) in 1:56 3/5 for driver Leon Bailey, trainer Andy Gardner and owner Todd Lapage;

--Flex Up (a Chapter Seven colt bred by Crawford Farms, paid $3.20 to win) in 1:55 3/5 for driver Andy Miller, trainer Julie Miller and owners Miller Iannacone, Jean Goehlen, Ac Crawford Racing Stable and Mortgage Boys Stable;

--Myths And Legends (a daughter of Chapter Seven bred by Order By Stable, paid $3.24 to win) in 1:56 1/5 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Marcus Melander and owner S R F Stable;

--Aviatrix Blue Chip (a Chapter Seven filly bred by owner Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., paid $4 to win) in 1:56 3/5 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Jared Bako.