Vernon: New York Sire Stakes season kicks off

Driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ake Svanstedt teamed up to win both of the New York Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters that took place on Monday at Vernon Downs. Royal Filly and Sadie Hanover won the sections for sophomore trotting fillies, and Chapter Seven sired all four victors.

In the first $59,200 test for the males, Cecil Hanover and MacDonald took command racing to the 55 1/5 half, kept control through three-quarters in 1:24 3/5, and then out-lasted a first-over bid by favorite and defending NYSS champion The Gruffalo (Jordan Stratton) to tally by a head in 1:52 3/5. Crown (Brian Sears) closed well from second-over to get third.

Svanstedt also co-owns Cecil Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, with partners S R F Stable, Midnight Sun Partners Inc., and Jorgen Sparredal Inc. This was his second career win, he has now earned $121,013, and he paid $8.40 racing as part of an entry with Crown that was sent off at 3-1.

Kierkegaard K was the other MacDonald/Svanstedt collaboration, and he would upset at 18-1 in his $59,200 event. MacDonald sent Kierkegaard K to the top from post seven, put up fractions and 26 3/5, 56 1/5, and 1:25 4/5, and used a 27 1/5 final kicker to prevail by two lengths in 1:53. Tillio's Action (Stratton) crossed the wire second but was off-stride, and after an inquiry, he was moved back to third behind Kilmister (Sears).

A Knutsson Trotting Inc.-homebred, Kierkegaard K has compiled a record of 2-1-4 from ten tries, has now pocketed $167,498, and returned $39.00 to win.

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Royal Filly (Tyler Buter) chopped out the 26 3/5 quarter in the opening $61,400 showdown for the fillies, but she would yield to sit in the pocket behind last year's Jim Doherty Memorial champion Instagram Model (Scott Zeron) passing the 56 second half. Instagram Model went on to reach three-quarters in 1:24 3/5 and turned for home first, but Buter angled Royal Filly to the outside for the drive, and she out-footed Instagram Model to the wire, prevailing by a length in 1:52. Kayleigh S (Sears) took third.

Tony Alagna trains Royal Filly, bred by Jonas Schlabach, for owner Crawford Farms Racing. Royal Filly broke her maiden in her ninth attempt, sent her bankroll to $58,902, and paid $12.80 to win as the 5-1 third choice.

The second $60,300 battle for the ladies saw Ruth Honig (Stratton) get by On The House (MacDonald) at the 27 1/5 opening quarter, but Zeron put Sadie Hanover in motion first-up out of third in the backstretch and hit the front beyond the 57 4/5 half. Sadie Hanover got separation on the others going towards the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters and continued to widen her margin to the wire, scoring by five lengths in 1:53 2/5. Pride N Joy (Buter) was up for second, with Ruth Honig third.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Sadie Hanover is a Linda Toscano-trained filly for owners The Bay's Stable LLC., Blue Ridge Stable, Carmen Iannacone, and Gary Cocco. She's been victorious in half of her eight trips behind the gate, has put away $69,162, and returned $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.