Tioga Downs: Melodies Major makes it a grand slam in New York Sire Stakes

Melodies Major's record now stands at four victories from four attempts after a 1:53 1/5 victory in the third and final New York Sire Stakes split for 2-year-old pacing colts on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs. Major Blake and Artie's Ideal scored wins in the other two divisions.

Driven by Tyler Buter in the $35,866 race, Melodies Major led his five rivals through fractions of 27 2/5, 57, and 1:24 3/5. Jack Nation (Jim Morrill Jr.), who sat a three-hole trip and then angled out for the stretch drive, made up some ground on Melodies Major through the lane, but he held sway to score by a length and a quarter. Rockin Jimmy Brown (Marcus Muller) finished third after a pocket trip.

"I said to myself going to the half he feels real comfortable," offered Buter. "Up the backside I let him out a notch, and he definitely responded. I'm sure he'll handle (a big track) well. He's a big-gaited horse, and he handles a half just as well, too."

An Art Major colt, Melodies Major is trained by Mark Ford for owner Martin Scharf. Melodies Major, bred by James Avritt, has pocketed $97,933 to go with his undefeated record. Melodies Major is out of the Die Laughing mare Hilarious (1:52 3/5, $58,461), which makes him a half-brother such horses as Milliondollarsmile (Million Dollar Cam, 1:50 2/5, $439,904). Melodies Major was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.50 to win.

Major Blake took the fastest clocking of the day after winning the $36,566 opening section in 1:51 4/5. Driver Tim Tetrick had him on the point through panels of 28 1/5, 57 3/5, and 1:25, and he kicked away nicely from the field in the final quarter, downing Sheppard champion Hickfromfrenchlick (Ray Schnittker) by 3 1/2 lengths. Reigning Deo (David Miller) was rebuffed by the eventual winner from first-over and had to settle for third.

"I really liked the colt at Yonkers (a 1:56 win in sire stakes competition on June 26)," relayed Tetrick. "He showed me he had a lot of talent and some class. Today, I was just going to manage it off the gate and see what happened. Ray left good, and he looked like he was going to be happy enough to follow me. I just went ahead and cut it and let the colt kind of do his own fractions. At the three-quarter pole I spoke to him, and he was carrying the mail down the lane.

"He was strong all the way to the wire, and I'm happy he was lazy. I pulled the plugs and I probably should have waited a little while, cause he really took off from there."

Major Blake is an Art Major colt trained by Sam Schillaci, who also co-owns the Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc.-bred with partners Matthew Bencic and Howard Berke. Major Blake, who was purchased for $43,000 at the Goshen Yearling Sale, has two wins and a second from three attempts, and he has now earned $58,408. He is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Bet Your Life (1:57 3/5, $45,107), making him a full brother to Ronny Bugatti (1:50 2/5, $747,897). Major Blake was sent off as the 2-1 favorite and paid $6.50 to win.

Artie's Ideal (Marcus Miller), making his initial pari-mutuel start, bagged the second sire stakes test in 1:54 1/5. He was positioned third to the 28 2/5 opening quarter and the 58 2/5 half, then edged first-up, getting side-by-side with leader and favorite Buddy Hill (Scott Zeron) at the 1:26 3/5 three-quarters. Those two continued to battle around the final bend and through the lane, but Artie's Ideal forged his way by late, winning by a neck. Jet Rock (Mike Simons) followed the winner from second-over and was up for third.

"He's still really green, so I knew I had to watch him a little bit," said Marcus Miller. "I went in and trained him this week to make sure I was set up for today, but he's a nice colt, and he's had good go all the time training down. I'm glad it worked out that we drew into the right division where he was very competitive.

"It's all about racing them the right way. Luckily I didn't have to pull until pretty late, so it was kind of just a sprint from the three-quarter pole home, and he was just able to get the jump on the other one."

Erv Miller trains Artie's Ideal, a colt by American Ideal, for owner Bay Bond Racing Stable. Artie's Ideal, who was bred by Winbak Farm, was making his career debut after finishing fifth and second in two qualifiers at the Meadowlands. He is out of the Artsplace mare Midnight Art (1:54, $66,405), which makes Artie's Ideal a full brother to the likes of Artist Night (1:51 1/5, $327,383). Artie's Ideal was the 5-1 third choice and returned $12.00 to win.