Vernon: McCarthy, Bartlett clean up in New York Sire Stakes

Two-year-old pacers of both sexes were in action on Sunday night at Vernon Downs in New York Sire Stakes action. Driver Todd McCarthy teamed up with trainer Noel Daley to win both flights for the colts and geldings, while Jason Bartlett took the races for the fillies.

In the opening $59,100 division for the boys, Man On A Hunt and McCarthy raced in the pocket behind first Clear Deal (Leon Bailey) and then El Cucuy (Bartlett) through opening-half fractions of 28 and 57 1/5 before he slipped out to follow the cover of Bastonata Bluechip (Matt Kakaley) coming to three-quarters in 1:25 2/5. McCarthy fend the striking roan gelding clear track down the stretch, and he knew what to do from there, going by the leaders and on to a two length triumph in 1:53 1/5. El Cucuy held second over Bastonata Bluechip.

Daley also co-owns Man On A Hunt, a son of Huntsville, with partners Patricia Stables LLC., Allister Stables LLC. and Joe Sbrocco And Jaf Racing. Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III., Man On A Hunt broke his maiden in his second chance, has now earned $32,275 and paid $37.68 to win as a 17-1 shot.

Beatle Blue Chip and McCarthy were positioned third at the 27 second quarter and 55 4/5 half in the other $60,200 section but then got shuffled back on the inside before the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters as he stayed in as the outer flow developed and advanced. Despite losing the spots and ground, Beatle Blue Chip was full of pace after McCarthy did get him off the rail late on the final bend, and he chased down a first-over Marie's Jet (Bartlett) at the wire to tally by a nose in 1:53. Pace-setter Primacy Station (Kakaley) checked in third.

Daley sent out the victorious Huntsville colt for owners Patricia Stables LLC., Sjoblom Racing & M. Dolan, Fac Racing LLC. and L. A. Express Stable LLC. Beatle Blue Chip won for the first time in three tries, has pocketed $46,725 and returned $15.36 to win as a 6-1 offering.

The opening $60,200 tilt for the fillies saw Maxina (McCarthy) and Win Me Over (Yannick Gingras) cut the 28 1/5 quarter and the 59 second half, but Bartlett and Cowboy Candy charged first-over out of fourth past the half and took over the lead before the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters. Real Choice (Dexter Dunn) followed Cowboy Candy's bid and charged at her all the way through the final quarter despite losing the cover. Cowboy Candy wouldn't relent, though, and won by a neck in 1:54 3/5. Maxina closed well for third after being shuffled on the last turn.

Aaron Lambert trains Cowboy Candy, a daughter of So Surreal bred by Eric Taddeo, for owner Chain Lightning Stables LLC. She has a summary of 3-1-0 in four starts, has put away $98,200 and paid $3.14 to win as the favorite.

Fendilicious and Bartlett stalked Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) from the pocket through stations of 27 1/5, 56 1/5 and 1:24 1/5 in the second $59,100 tilt, came to the outside in the lane and wore the pace-setter down late to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 2/5. Too Pink To Pass had to settle for second and Carly Shay (Scott Zeron) was third.

A filly by Huntsville, Fendilicious is trained by Deborah Daguet for owners Michael Rosenthal, Kareo Stable Inc. and Donald MacRae. The Crawford Farms-bred has a pair of triumphs and a second in three trips behind the gate, has banked $81,325 and returned $15.60 to win as a 6-1 shot.

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Winning $20,000 New York Excelsior Series divisions for colts and geldings were:

--Blast Blue Chip (by Shadow Play and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Let It Ride Stables Inc., paid $2.58 to win) in 1:54 2/5 for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Exceed Stables LLC.;

--Takes Courage (by American Courage and bred by owner Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC., paid $5.46 to win) in 1:54 1/5 for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander;

--Beach Bum Bluechip (by American Ideal and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., John Lengacher, Kapildeo Singh and Whiskeyontherocks Racing, paid $7.60 to win) in 1:53 3/5 for driver Kyle Swift, trainer Eve Bergeron and owners Dennis Noud and Simone Noud;

--Bills Mafia (by Huntsville and bred by Steve Jones, paid $16.58 to win) in 1:52 4/5 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Jared Bako and owners Bootville Stables LLC., David Kryway, Richard Rinaldi and Cesidio Muscedere.

The $20,000 New York Excelsior Series sections for fillies went to:

--Shadow Of A Girl (by Shadow Play and bred by owner/trainer Anette Lorentzon, paid $4.86 to win ) in 1:55 4/5 for driver Scott Zeron;

--Clear Choice (by Courtly Choice and bred by Winbak Farm, paid $3.12 to win) in 1:53 2/5 for driver Matt Kakaley, co-owner/trainer Blake MacIntosh and co-owner Glenn Dyke;

--Spider Claire (by So Surreal and bred by co-owner/trainer Paul Roy with co-owner Ersilia Roy, paid $2.46 to win) in 1:55 1/5 for driver Jason Bartlett;

--Prop Bet (by American Courage and bred by owner Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC., paid $11.70 to win) in 1:54 3/5 for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander.