Tioga: Sky Castles, Third Shift best in New York Sire Stakes events

Sky Castles and Third Shift both turned in 1:57 4/5 miles in winning the two $55,000 New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters that took place on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

Dismissed at 24-1 in the first split, Sky Castles (Matt Kakaley) was pocketed behind Praying Ruby (Wally Hennessey) through stations of 29 2/5, 1:00, and 1:28 4/5, found room to get out two-wide on the last turn, and was up in the lane to score by a length and a quarter. Berkery J (Scott Zeron) finished in second, and Praying Ruby wound up third.

"I've driven him, so I know how he is. He's a nice horse," said Kakaley. "There's not much to him, but he gets over the track and he's handy, so that's going to get him a long way."

A colt by Conway Hall, Sky Castles is trained by Charlie Norris for owner/breeder Robert Key. Sky Castles, who was seventh and third in his two baby races at Pocono with Kakaley driving, is out of the American Winner mare Sand Piper (1:56 4/5, $74,042). He paid $51.00 to win.

In the other section Take The Credit (Andy Miller) posted fractions of 28 4/5, 1:00, and 1:29, but his Ake Svanstedt stable-mate Third Shift (Svanstedt drove) overwhelmed him from first-over in the lane and went on to win by a pair of lengths. Chaptiama (Trond Smedshammer) followed from second-over and was the runner-up, and Take The Credit came in third.

"He felt good, and he's a very strong horse with a good attitude," remarked Svanstedt. "I have a feeling that he can be a good horse."

Third Shift is a Chapter Seven colt owned by Mellby Gard Inc. Bred by Winbak Farm, Third Shift fetched $235,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the CR Commando mare Overnight Command, who was a three-time Delaware Standardbred Fund champion during her time on the track, earning $226,625 to go with a mark of 1:59 at Harrington. The 6-5 favorite, Third Shift returned $4.60 to win.