Vernon: Spencer Hanover reigns in Monday's New York Sire Stakes tilts
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Oak Grove Trotting Derby champion Spencer Hanover led a double for trainer Marcus Melander in New York Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old trotters on Monday afternoon at Vernon Downs.
Driven by Jason Bartlett in the second $59,100 flight for the colts and geldings, Spencer Hanover was third at the 29 1/5 quarter, then came to the outside in the backstretch and took the lead away from Seven Grand (Ake Svanstedt) past the 58 second half. From there, Spencer Hanover picked up the tempo to 1:25 3/5 three-quarters and then drew off at will in a 28 1/5 final kicker, defeating Titans Mischief (Matt Kakaley) by 8 1/4 lengths in 1:53 4/5. Secured (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) checked in third.
A Chapter Seven colt owned by Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti, Spencer Hanover has a summary of 6-4-1 from 16 outings and has banked $945,847. He paid $2.10 to win.
Melander's other winner was Nezuko Kamado S (Scott Zeron) in the lone $121,800 contest for fillies. Defending Breeders Crown champion Storybook Love (Todd Ratchford) took the lead beyond the 28 second opening quarter and kept it to the half in 57 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:27 as Nezuko Kamado S advanced first-up into second on the final bend.
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Storybook Love looked strong for much of the long Vernon Downs stretch, but Nezuko Kamado S kept chipping away on the outside and was able to wear down Storybook Love late, tallying by half a length in 1:54 3/5. R Ro (Tyler Buter) got up to finish third.
The winner, by Chapter Seven, was bred and is owned by Courant Inc. She has seven wins, two seconds and a third from 13 appearances, has pocketed $607,900 and returned $3.08 to win.
Sevenato (Trond Smedshammer) captured the first $58,000 section for the boys. He trailed and wound up third-over through panels of 27 2/5, 56 4/5 and 1:24 4/5, then rallied widest in the stretch to score by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:54. Who's Eyes Blues (Buter) was the runner-up, followed by Highway Six (Jeff Gregory).
Smedshammer also trains Sevenato, a Blue Chip Bloodstock-bred Chapter Seven gelding, for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC. Sevenato broke his maiden in fourth attempt, has put away $35,825 and paid $37.52 to win as the longest shot on the board at 17-1.