Vernon: Chapter Seven colts clean up in Friday's NY Sire Stakes

Kilmister, The Gruffalo, and Crown gave sire Chapter Seven victories in all three New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters that took place on Friday afternoon at Vernon Downs.

Racing in the first $35,900 grouping, Kilmister was positioned fourth through opening-half fractions of 28 and 58 1/5 set by Some Kinda Crazy (Tyler Buter). Some Kinda Crazy maintained command at the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters, but Kilmister was out and on the move first-over and had advanced into second at that station.

In the upper part of the stretch Kilmister went by Some Kinda Crazy, who got rough-gaited and eventually broke, and from there, Kilmister was able to hold off pocket-sitter The Strawboss (Jim Devaux) to win by a length and a quarter in 1:56 1/5. Cecil Hanover (Ake Svanstedt finished third.

Marcus Melander trains Kilmister, who is out of the Muscle Massive mare Treviso, for owner Courant Inc. Bred by Moni Market Breeders, Kilmister, who has won both of his starts so far and earned $37,275, was a $170,000 purchase at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He paid $4.80 to win as the 7-5 favorite.

In the second $36,600 split, Kilgore S (Sears) led through fractions of 27 4/5, 57 3/5, and 1:26 1/5, but was pressured by a two-wide Country Dagger (Melvin Schmucker) going to the half and around the last turn. Taking advantage of that was The Gruffalo (Buter), who went three-wide from second-over beyond three-quarters and surged into the lead turning for home.

The Gruffalo still had some work to do after taking control as Upnaway Blue Chip (Wally Hennessey) rallied at him from third-over, but The Gruffalo stayed game and determined to the wire, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 4/5. Kierkegaard K (Svanstedt) was the third-place finisher.

Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns The Gruffalo, who was bred by Concord Stud Farm and bought for $75,000 at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale, with partners Racing Team Of America, Deena Frost, and Emma Pettersson. The Gruffalo, who is out of the Infinitif mare Clementine Dream, is two-for-two in the win column, has pocketed $37,625, and returned $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite.

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The last $36,600 section saw Crown (Sears) race in fifth and fourth through stations of 27 4/5, 57, and 1:26 2/5 set by Sevecheetah (Trond Smedshammer), Night Star (Devaux) and Seven Over (Buter). Sears tipped Crown out into a second-over position behind Met Your Request (Andy Miller) heading to three-quarters, then successful got past Met Your Request when he made a break late on the bend.

After working his way by Met Your Request, Crown charged into the lead in mid-stretch and was able to keep a gaining Wild Bill Kelso (Hennessey) at bay to the finish, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:55 3/5. Barney Goldstein (Brett Crawford) was the third-place finisher.

Crown, bred by Order by Stable AB and out of the Cantab Hall mare Amour Heiress, is trained by Melander for owner S R F Stable. A $250,000 yearling buy in Lexington, Crown has made two starts, both of which have resulted in victories, and he has now put away $37,975. He paid $2.70 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Sears and Melander also won New York Excelsior "A" Series races together with Kaleun [1:58 4/5] and You Got It [1:58 2/5]. Both of those horses are also by Chapter Seven.