Vernon: Chapter Seven colts impress for Dunn, Melander in New York Sire Stakes
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It was a sweep of $55,500 New York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Friday afternoon at Vernon Downs for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Marcus Melander and sire Chapter Seven with Gio's Hope and Bigtime Chapter.
2-5 favorite Seven Pledges (Jason Bartlett) was in front at the 28 2/5 quarter, 57 4/5 half and 1:26 three-quarters in the first split, but Dunn had Gio's Hope out and moving first-over out of third on the final bend. Gio's Hope, a 6-1 offering, would go by the chalk with little dispute in the lane and pulled clear to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:55. Seven Pledges had to settle for second and T Money (Tyler Buter) got up for third after he gapped the winner's cover on the final bend.
Bred by Little E LLC., the victorious colt is owned by Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables. Gio's Hope, an $85,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, won in his career debut off two seconds and a seventh in three baby races at the Meadowlands.
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In the other flight Uncle Rob (Andy Miller) hit the opening quarter first in 29 1/5, but Dunn and Bigtime Chapter moved from the pocket to the point on the way to the 59 2/5 half. From there Bigtime Chapter went on to put three-quarters on the board in 1:28 3/5, and his 28 4/5 final kicker got him to the wire a length and three-quarters ahead of Uncle Rob in a 1:57 2/5 mile. Archon (Jordan Stratton), the race favorite, advanced from fifth to third in the last panel.
Jeff Snyder owns the Concord Stud Farm-bred Bigtime Chapter. Bigtime Chapter, who returned $6.86 to win as the 2-1 second choice, was a $190,000 Standardbred Horse Sale acquisition and prevailed at first asking following a runner-up result and a third in a pair of Meadowlands baby races.
There were also two $20,000 New York Excelsior Series divisions that were won by Rob Harmon trainees:
--Telling Tall Tales (by Back Of The Neck and bred by Runthetable Stables, paid $2.68 to win) in 1:58 1/5 for driver Brett Beckwith and owners Harmon Racing Stable LLC., Billy Muggleston and Robert Robinson;
--Betelgeusebluechip (by Crazy Wow and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., paid $5.36 to win) in 1:57 4/5 for driver Tyler Buter and owners Go For Glory Stable LLC., Robert Robinson, Billy Muggleston and Harmon Racing Stable LLC.