Tioga: Favorites go three-for-three in New York Sire Stakes

It was a chalky afternoon in New York Sire Stakes action for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Tioga Downs as Cool Papa Bell, Justice, and Branded By Lindy won as odds-on choices.

In the first $34,300 grouping, Barn Bully (Corey Callahan) led the way through fractions of 29 4/5, 59, and 1:27 3/5, but Cool Papa Bell (Jason Bartlett) was challenging him from first-over at three-quarters. On the far turn Cool Papa Bell put away Barn Bully and then drew off impressively on his way to a 7 1/4 length victory in 1:56 3/5. Grand Spa (Scott Zeron) overcame an early miscue and closed from sixth to second, and Barn Bully saved third.

Trained by Jim Campbell, Cool Papa Bell, a Chapter Seven-Blk Thai Optional (Muscle Hill) gelding, is owned by Runthetable Stables and has now put away $58,233 to go with a three-for-three record. Cool Papa Bell, who is a full brother to Aela Jamieson (1:55 1/5, $100,758), the runner-up in last year's New York Sire Stakes final for rookie trotting fillies, was bred by Belmar Racing And Breeding LLC. and was acquired for $100,000 at the 2020 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Cool Papa Bell returned $3.40 to win.

Justice (Ake Svanstedt) went right down the road in the second $33,600 section, putting up panels of 28 3/5, 57 3/5, and 1:27 1/5 before trotting home in 28 3/5 to tally by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:55 4/5. Velvet Style (Bartlett) was the runner-up and Secret Rule (Joe Bongiorno) got third.

Svanstedt also trains and co-owns Justice, a Chapter Seven colt bred by Diamond Creek Farm and purchased for $62,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, with partners Little E LLC., Torbjorn Swahn Inc., and Myfab Inc. Justice, who was victorious in first round action in the New York Sire Stakes at Yonkers on June 28, has pocketed $40,333. Justice is the sixth foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Religulous ($128,926, 1:55 3/5) and is a half-brother to Apostles Creed ($217,125, 1:57 3/5). Justice paid $3.00 to win.

The last $33,600 flight saw Castle House (Kasper Forget) lead at the 27 4/5 opening quarter, but he would be overtaken by Quincy Market (Callahan) going to the 56 4/5 half. Quincy Market managed to fend off a first-over try by Distance Learning (Brian Sears) to the 1:26 three-quarters and around the last turn, but Branded By Lindy (Zeron) swung out four-wide from third-over coming off the bend, and he finished powerfully in the lane, getting up to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:56 2/5. Quincy Market clung to second over Chapheart (Bartlett).

Branded By Lindy, another colt by Chapter Seven, is trained by Domenico Cecere and is a homebred for Lindy Farms. Out of the Cantab Hall mare The Lindy Label, Branded By Lindy broke his maiden in his second chance after finishing as the runner-up to Cool Papa Bell at Vernon Downs on July 9, and he has now put away $25,350. He returned $2.90 to win.