Vernon: Ahundreddollarbill trots track record mile in NY Sire Stakes action

The New York Sire Stakes season for 3-year-old trotters began on Friday night at Vernon Downs with a pair of splits for both sexes, and Ahundreddollarbill led the way, posting a track record clocking of 1:52 2/5 for a sophomore gelding in winning his event. Other victors included colt Ambassador Hanover and fillies Iteration and Moni For Lindy.

Driven by Andrew McCarthy in the first $56,000 test for the boys, Ahundreddollarbill popped pocket to take the lead after the 27 2/5 opening quarter, continued to show the way to the 56 second half and the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, and staved off a rallying Incommunicado (Ake Svanstedt) through the stretch to prevail by a quarter of a length. Dewey Arnold (Jason Bartlett) was the third-place finisher.

The time of 1:52 2/5 knocked a fifth of a second off the previous standard for a 3-year-old gelding trotter at Vernon Downs. That mark had belonged to Gym Tan Laundry since August of 2012.

"He kicked home strong. I got a nice second quarter there," said McCarthy. "I got to relax him and just catch a little bit of a breather. He had a good enough back-half after that. I think he's a pretty good horse. He was watching where Ake's horse was and just made sure he kept him at bay."

Tony Alagna trains Ahundreddollarbill, a son of Chapter Seven, for owners Crawford Farms Racing and James Crawford. Ahundreddollarbill now has a record of 4-1-0 from eight starts, and he has earned $105,612. He paid $3.30 to win as the favorite.

"He's heavily staked for this year. He has everything except for the Hambletonian because that would have been a payment that would have had to be made in the spring of his 2-year-old year. He's got the Yonkers Trot, Breeders Crown, everything all the way through. We're excited about him," remarked Alagna. "He was great tonight, and he was great his first start. We should have some fun with him this summer."

In the other $57,000 grouping for the colts and geldings, Dee's Red Delicous (Corey Callahan) surged two-wide into the lead past the 56 3/5 half, but Ambassador Hanover (Svanstedt) was hot on his heels, and Ambassador Hanover took over command racing to the 1:25 three-quarters. After landing on the lead, Ambassador Hanover opened up a gap on the rest of the field, then cruised to the victory by a length and a half in 1:53. Balenciaga (Scott Zeron) closed well for second, with Latin Lover (Leon Bailey) back in third.

"When (Dee's Red Delicous) made a move, then I followed him. He felt strong the whole way home, so then I wasn't so worried," stated Svanstedt.

Svanstedt also trains and co-owns Ambassador Hanover, also by Chapter Seven, with partners Order By Stable, Howard Taylor, and Judith Taylor. Ambassador Hanover is now a five-time winner from eight appearances, and he has pocketed $161,171. Sent off at 5-2, Ambassador Hanover returned $7.20 to win.

Iteration (Brian Sears) won the New York Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old filly trotters a season ago, and she kicked off her defense of that crown with a 1:54 tally in the second of two $57,000 sections for the girls. Sears had her on the engine at the 27 1/5 opening quarter, but he would be passed by Sweeping Rainbow (Andy Miller) prior to the 57 second half-mile station.

Sweeping Rainbow was able to keep the top spot around the far turn and to the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters, but Sears brought Iteration to the outside at that point. Sweeping Rainbow and Iteration battled in a great duel to the wire, but Iteration forged past to get the victory by a neck. Aela Jamieson (Andy Miller) checked in third.

"First start of the year, just trying to get a good trip in her," said Sears. "Last year, she ended up the year just being a little bit on the warm side, so it was nice to be able to race her off somebody's back."

The victorious Chapter Seven filly, a full sister to Trotter of the Year Gimpazee, is trained by Marcus Melander for owner Courant Inc. Iteration has six wins, a second, and two thirds from 11 tries, and she has now put away $343,509. She was the even-money choice and paid $4.00 to win.

Back in the first $57,000 contest for the fillies, first Illuminata (Svanstedt) and then Soukup Blue Chip (A. Miller) put up fractions of 27 1/5, 56 1/5, and 1:25 4/5, but Moni For Lindy (Wally Hennessey), sent off as the longest shot on the board at 21-1, rallied off cover in the stretch and scored by a length and a quarter in 1:53 4/5. Darlene Hanover (McCarthy) surged from sixth to second in the last quarter, and Contested Hanover (Zeron) got third.

"When I pulled her I didn't know what to expect, but as soon as I pulled her, she hit another gear," relayed Hennessey. "I didn't know what was behind me, but I knew they'd have to be pretty good if they were going to catch me."

Moni For Lindy, a daughter of Credit Winner, is trained by Domenico Cecere for owner/breeder Moni Maker Stable. Moni For Lindy made her third trip to the winner's circle from 11 efforts, and she has now banked $101,069. She returned $44.80 to win.