Tioga: Fragment brushes, crushes in New York Sire Stakes

MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion Fragment returned to New York Sire Stakes action on Saturday night at Tioga Downs and was a handy 1:49 3/5 victor of the lone $123,900 division for 3-year-old male pacers.

Driven by Jason Bartlett, Fragment settled in third on the first turn from post six but was out and on the move before the 27 4/5 quarter that was put on the board by Knoxville (Tyler Buter). Fragment would go past Knoxville to take control prior to the 55 4/5 half and kept it to three-quarters in 1:23 2/5 as Unmatched Wisdom (Leon Bailey) tried a first-over move that was ultimately unsuccessful.

Fragment would gain separation from Knoxville and the others on the final bend and continued to widen through the wire in a 3 3/4 length victory. Knoxville held second over Fearless Partners (Colin Kelly) with Hunt Off The Press (Mike Merton) and Hunting Glory (Jim Taggart Jr.) back in fourth and fifth, respectively.

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Per Engblom trains Fragment, a colt by Huntsville, for owners Engblom Farm LLC., Douglas Sipple and Peaceful Acre Farm. Bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, Michael Robinson and South Mountain Stables, Fragment has 12 wins and three seconds from 20 efforts, has pocketed $820,007 and returned $2.24 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

There were also a trio of $20,000 New York Excelsior Series splits on the program that were won by:

--Aries Blue Chip (by American Ideal and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., paid $2.80 to win) in 1:50 3/5 for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Deborah Daguet and owner Forrest Bartlett;

--Cooperstown Boy (by Huntsville and bred by Jeff Mcfadden and Jeff Roberts, paid $3.88 to win) in 1:51 4/5 for driver Colin Kelly, trainer Jared Bako and owner Ny Seb Inc.;

--Johnny Wiggles (by Huntsville and bred by James Crawford IV, paid $5.14 to win) in 1:51 2/5 for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Jared Bako and owners Doug McNair and John Stamatis.