Vernon Downs: Productive Labor Day at the office for Melodies Major, Hickfromfrenchlick

Two $56,500 New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers took place on Monday afternoon at Vernon Downs, and it would be Melodies Major and Hickfromfrenchlick scoring the wins.

In the first split Reigning Deo (Jim Morrill Jr.) carved out an opening quarter in 26 2/5, but then he yielded to heavy favorite Major Blake (Jason Bartlett), who would go on to reach the half in 55 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:23 2/5. Major Blake continued to lead into the lane, but he came up empty in the drive, with Melodies Major (Tyler Buter), who followed cover from second-over, sweeping by and kicking away to win by a length and a quarter in 1:51 3/5. Artie's Ideal (Marcus Miller) was second after a first-up trip, and Jack Nation (Scott Zeron) rallied for third.

An Art Major colt, Melodies Major is trained by Mark Ford for owner Martin Scharf. Melodies Major, bred by James Avritt, has pocketed $139,183 to go with a 5-1-0 record from seven tries. Melodies Major is out of the Die Laughing mare Hilarious (1:52 3/5, $58,461), which makes him a half-brother such horses as Milliondollarsmile (Million Dollar Cam, 1:50 2/5, $439,904). Melodies Major was the 9-2 second choice and returned $11.40 to win.

Hickfromfrenchlick (Ray Schnittker) made every call a winning one in the second grouping, leading the way through stations of 27 1/5, 56, and 1:23 2/5, and then using a 28 1/5 final kicker to seal a two-length decision in 1:51 3/5. Chatelroll (Zeron) was the second-place finisher, and Jet Rock (John MacDonald) checked in third.

Schnittker also trains and co-owns Hickfromfrenchlick, a colt by So Surreal, with Nolamaura Racing LLC. and Thomas Spatorico. Hickfromfrenchlick has won four times in five attempts, and he has earned $120,541. Bred by Steve Jones, Hickfromfrenchlick was a $47,000 buy at the Goshen Yearling Sale. He is out of the Art Major mare My Girl's A Star (1:52 2/5, $155,245), a half-sister to Station Threeohsix (Western Terror, 1:52 1/5, $370,697). He was the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.70 to win.