Vernon: Keep Asking hauls down favorites in New York Sire Stakes

Keep Asking, a 23-1 shot, was last at the half but first at the wire in this afternoon's $108,200 New York Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old male trotters at Vernon Downs.

There was a big scramble for the early lead with Situationship (Jason Bartlett), Wild Ticket (Brian Sears) and Titan Your Grip (Mark MacDonald) all pushing out in a rapid 26 2/5 opening quarter. Titan Your Grip, the second-longest shot on the board at 47-1, cleared past that marker but was looped by a brushing Situationship prior to the 55 2/5 half.

It Wasnt Me (Tyler Buter), who was the outsider in the field at 54-1, attacked first-over out of fourth on the final bend and made it into second behind Situationship at the 1:25 three-quarters. Meanwhile, Keep Asking, driven by Scott Zeron, had picked up a couple of spots by sitting in on the turn and then angled out for the drive.

Keep Asking had over five lengths to make up on Situationship with a quarter to go, and he would be able to bridge that gap and then some, as he stormed home in 28 seconds flat while on the far outside in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:54 flat. It Wasnt Me kept plugging away through the stretch and got up for second over Situationship.

Trainer George Ducharme also bred and co-owns Keep Asking, a Chapter Seven colt, with partners W.J. Donovan, Joe Sbrocco and Jim Winske. This was Keep Asking's first win in his fifth try and he has now earned $96,613. He paid $48.40 for the victory.

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There were also four $20,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series tests for rookie trotting colts and geldings on the program. Winning those contests were:

--Fringed (by Crazy Wow and bred by Crawford Farms) in 1:57 3/5 for trainer/driver Dan Daley and owners Ann-Mari Daley, Jared Daley, Oleg Ivutin and Bain Racing Stables

--Super Duper Cooper (by E L Titan and bred by Crawford Farms) in 1:57 3/5 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer John Butenschoen and owners Timothy Drag, Jim Crawford IV and Carl Austin Jr.

--Inflation (by Chapter Seven and bred by Hauser Bros Rcng Ent LLC.) in 1:59 1/5 for driver Brian Sears, co-owner trainer Lucas Wallin and co-owners Mal & Janet Burroughs LLC. and Shermay Stables

--Sir Pinocchio (by Met's Hall and bred by owner Carolyn Atherton) in 1:58 for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Ed Hart