King James Express and Natameri delivered as the favorites in their respective New York Sire Stakes tilts for sophomore colt and gelding pacers on Friday night at Vernon Downs. The first group went after a purse of $55,000, and it would be Major Bean (Matt Kakaley) who set the pace, putting up fractions of 27, 55 2/5, and 1:23 1/5. Meanwhile, King James Express (Jason Bartlett), who landed in fourth, began a first-over move beyond the half that carried him into second en route to three-quarters. In the lane King James Express wrestled the lead away from Major Bean, then held off a bid by pocket-sitter Stop Staring (Mark MacDonald) to win by a length and a quarter in 1:50 4/5. Bottle Rocket (Mike Whelan) got up for third. "I knew at the quarter pole he was himself tonight and we had a good shot," said Bartlett, who noted King James Express was sick when he wound up sixth in his sire stakes division at Yonkers last Friday. It's been a pleasure to drive him as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old." Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns King James Express, an Art Major gelding, with partners Deena Rachel Frost, Wayne Carleton, and Dean Lockhart. King James Express is now a seven-time winner from 22 career tries, has pocketed $318,306, and paid $4.90 to win. King James Express was bred by Dr. Greg Dey. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter In the second $56,000 split, Mullinax (MacDonald) zipped to the front and hit the quarter in 26 1/5, but Natameri (Kakaley) tipped out from third in the backstretch and became the new leader going to the 54 3/5 half. After going on to put up three-quarters in 1:23, Natameri slammed the door with a 27 second final quarter, fending off a first-over try from Town Gossip (Billy Dobson) to score by a length in 1:50. Southwind Petyr (Bartlett) checked in third. "I wanted to give him a shot on the front. He was good; he was digging," said Kakaley, who also piloted Natameri to a victory a week ago at Yonkers. "Lucky to drive him again tonight."     Jessica Okusko trains Natameri, an American Ideal colt, for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC. Natameri has a record of 7-2-1 from 14 starts, pushed his earnings to $113,144, and returned $4.00 to win. Natameri was bred by Robert L. Newman.