Vernon: Buter sweeps in Friday's New York Sire Stakes
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Driver Tyler Buter steered two daughters of Chapter Seven - Sadbirdstillsing and R Melina - to wins in the pair of $51,500 New York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old filly trotters that took place on Friday afternoon at Vernon Downs.
Sadbirdstillsing worked out a second-over trip behind Seven Year Itch (Joe Bongiorno) in the first flight, rallied to her outside in the lane, and got up to prevail by a head in 1:56 3/5. Seven Year Itch wound up second and Star Attraction (Mark MacDonald), who took the lead past the 28 4/5 opening quarter and then went on to click off the half in 58 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:28 1/5, ended up third.
Tony Alagna trains Sadbirdstillsing, who is owned by breeder Crawford Farms in partnership with Pryde Stables Inc. She broke her maiden in fourth chance, has now earned $48,350 and paid $3.30 to win as the favorite.
R Melina put up fractions of 29 3/5, 1:00 3/5 and 1:30 in the other section and came home in 27 3/5 to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:57 3/5. Shirin (Marcus Miller) was the runner-up and Erin (Dan Daley) checked in third.
Trained by John Butenschoen, R Melina competes for owners M And L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates LLC. Bred by Marsh Valley Standardbreds, the $110,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase has four wins and a third-place finish from five starts thus far, has put away $93,488 and returned $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.
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Buter also doubled in the New York Excelsior "A" Series, tallying with Dozen (by Chapter Seven and bred by Diamond Creek Farm) in 1:55 4/5 for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Diamond Creek Racing and Barn CJ (by Crazy Wow and bred by William Johnson) in 1:57 1/5 for co-owner/trainer Steven Pratt and co-onwers Nancy Pratt, Purple Haze Stables LLC. and Out In The Country Stable.
Also winning in the New York Excelsior "A" Series was Crowbar Girl (By Chapter Seven and bred by Order By Stable AB, in 1:57 1/5 for driver Joe Bongiorno, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.