Vernon: Record performance by Kierkegaard K in Empire Breeders Classic

Three-year-old New York-sired horses were in the spotlight on Friday afternoon at Vernon Downs as the seven-eighths-mile oval had Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) races for trotters of both sexes and sire stakes events for colt and gelding pacers.

In the second $97,022 EBC for colt and gelding trotters, Kierkegaard K (Ake Svanstedt) raced in the pocket through fractions of 26 1/5, 54 3/5 and 1:22 2/5 set by Chapercraz (Joe Bongiorno), angled out in the lane, and got up late to win by a length and a quarter in 1:50 3/5, tying Atlanta's all-age track record and establishing a new mark for a sophomore trotting colt. Tillio's Action (Jordan Stratton), who took the lead from first-up in mid-stretch but couldn't fend off the winner's bid, ended up second, and Chapercraz faded to third.

Svanstedt also trains Kierkegaard K, a homebred Chapter Seven colt, for Knutsson Trotting Inc. Kierkegaard K has three wins, a second, and four thirds from 11 trips behind the gate, has put away $216,009, and paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite.

The first $95,771 EBC for the males saw Kilmister (Brian Sears) turn a pocket trip into a 1 1/4 length victory in 1:52 4/5. Cecil Hanover (Svanstedt) set the tempo of 27 1/5, 56 4/5 and 1:26 and wound up second, with Sevecheetah (Bongiorno) back in third.

A Chapter Seven colt and last year's Peter Haughton Memorial champion, Kilmister was bred by Moni Market Breeders and is trained by Marcus Melander for owner Courant Inc. Kilmister has a record of 6-1-4 from 13 starts, has now pocketed $483,646, and returned $4.20 to win as the favorite.

Royal Filly (Tyler Buter) was a 1:52 3/5 victor in the opening $104,371 EBC for fillies. She put up panels of 27 4/5, 56 4/5 and 1:24 3/5 and held off a rally by Gigi Hanover (Svanstedt) to prevail by a quarter of a length. Kayleigh S (Sears) collected third.

Tony Alagna trains Royal Filly, bred by Jonas Schlabach, for owner Crawford Farms Racing. Royal Filly has two wins from 11 attempts, sent her bankroll to $111,087, and paid $5.70 to win as the 9-5 second choice.

Sadie Hanover (Scott Zeron) delivered in the other $104,371 EBC filly flight. She carved out splits of 26 1/5, 55 3/5 and 1:24 1/5, then drew off in a 27 2/5 final kicker, defeating Usosweet Blue Chip (Marcus Miller) by two lengths in a 1:51 3/5 mile. Canterbury Hanover (Jeff Gregory) got up for third.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Sadie Hanover is a Linda Toscano trainee and a daughter of Chapter Seven. Owned by The Bay's Stable LLC., Blue Ridge Stable, Carmen Iannacone and Gary Cocco, Sadie Hanover has been victorious in half of her ten career starts, has banked $151,497 and returned $2.70 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Thunder Hunter Joe [Tyler Buter, 1:49 2/5], Huntinthelastdolar [Scott Zeron, 1:49 2/5] and Its A Me Mario [Brian Sears, 1:49 4/5] all lowered their lifetime marks in winning the trio of $39,233 New York Sire Stakes dashes for colt and gelding pacers.

Thunder Hunter Joe is a Huntsville gelding trained by Nick Devita for owners Devita Racing Stable Inc., David Hamm, Glenn Phillips and Christopher Giaccio. The Heather Zitone-bred Thunder Hunter Joe made his third trip to the winner's circle in his eighth try, pushed his bankroll to $103,566 and paid $3.80 to win as the 4-5 choice.

Trainer Gregg McNair also co-owns Huntinthelastdolar, another Huntsville gelding, with partners George Kerr and Brad Grant. Bred by Crawford Farms, Huntinthelastdolar is now a three-time winner, has earnings of $188,536 and returned $7.90 to win.

By American Ideal and bred by Winbak Farm, Its A Me Mario is a Shane Tritton-trained colt and is owned by Joshua Graber. It's A Me Mario posted his fifth victory, has stashed away $111,811 and paid $6.80 to win.