Vernon: Sons of Huntsville star in New York Sire Stakes

It was four wins for sire Huntsville, a triple for Jordan Stratton, and a double for Ron Burke in New York Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old male pacers on Sunday afternoon at Vernon Downs.

Bounty Hunter, driven by Stratton, won the opening $30,550 flight in 1:52 2/5. He led at the 27 second opening quarter, yielded to sit in the pocket on the way to the 56 second half-mile marker, was shuffled back to fourth at the 1:24 three-quarters, then got up in a 28 second final panel, defeating last year's sire stakes champion JD (Mark MacDonald) by a length. American Classic (Andy Miller) finished third.

Robert Cleary trains Bounty Hunter, a Huntsville gelding bred by Crawford Farms, for owner Royal Wire Products Inc. This was his second career win, he has now earned $120,679, and paid $12.60 to win as a 5-1 offering.

In the next $29,950 division All About The Hunt (David Miller) took the lead after the 26 4/5 opening quarter, then got to the half in 55 3/5. Gone Before Dawn (Marcus Miller) put pressure on All About The Hunt from first-over on the far turn and to the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, but All About The Hunt rebuffed him and pulled away in a 28 2/5 last quarter, defeating Hazeville (MacDonald) by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:51 4/5. Huntanover (Tyler Buter) grabbed third.

All About The Hunt, a Huntsville colt, was also bred by Crawford Farms and is owned by them in partnership with Heather Marshall. All About The Hunt, trained by Burke, broke his maiden in his second lifetime try, pushed his bankroll to $19,100, and returned $3.80 to win as the 4-5 favorite.

The third $29,950 section saw River Ness (Stratton) chop out a 27 3/5 opening quarter, but he gave way to sit in the two-hole behind Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley) heading to the 55 4/5 half. Pleaseletmeknow stayed on the point through a 1:24 three-quarters and into the lane, but Stratton angled River Ness to the outside for the drive, and he was able to get by River Ness to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 1/5. Early Action (D. Miller) was third.

Burke trains River Ness, a Huntsville gelding bred by Steve Stewart, Oakwood Farms, and Michael Robinson, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Frank Baldachino. River Ness has compiled a record of 3-2-2 from 14 trips behind the gate, has now pocketed $137,945, and paid $14.80 to win after being dispatched at 6-1.

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Hurrikane Chuck (MacDonald) hit the opening quarter in 27 seconds in the last $30,550 split, then yielded to Kingsville (Jason Bartlett), who would go on to click off a 56 second half and a 1:23 4/5 three-quarters. Kingsville managed to fend off a first-over bid by Blue Collar Man (Dan Daley) on the last turn, but he weakened in the lane and would be overtaken on the inside by Seven Hundred (Stratton), who got away third and then was shuffled back on the last turn. After getting to the top, Seven Hundred dug in gamely and fought off Top Genius (Buter), who closed well from second-over but came up a neck short in the 1:52 3/5 mile. Stretch The Line (M. Miller) got third.

Bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Our Horse Cents Stables, Seven Hundred is a Huntsville colt trained by Bruce Clarke for owner Rick Berks. Seven Hundred made his fourth appearance in the winner's circle, has now put away $63,465, and returned $16.20 to win as a 7-1 shot.