Vernon: Third Shift, Berkery J take Wednesday NYSS divisions

Vernon Downs hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 3-year-old trotting colts & geldings worth $58,000 and $59,000 on Wednesday (June 24), with Third Shift and Berkery J taking home the gold.

Take The Credit (Andy Miller) took the early lead but Bluffinner (Trond Smedshammer) found the front before hitting the first quarter in 28. He was followed by the coupled entry of Take The Credit and Third Shift ($2.80) as they hit the half in 58 2/5. Third Shift would make his move as they headed for the last turn, going first-over from third. The Ake Svanstedt driven/trained charge would get a clear lead before hitting three-quarters in 1:26 2/5 and pour it on in the stretch, winning it with ease in a lifetime best of 1:54 3/5.

Take The Credit came up to finish second. Ballcapnbluejeans (Mark MacDonald) fired late to take third money.

Third Shift is a 3-year-old colt by Chapter Seven. Owned by Melby Gard Inc., and trainer Svanstedt. He was a winner in his first start of 2020 and now has four career wins.

At the start of the second NYSS split, the field would be five wide as they went by the stands for the first time. Beerthirty K (Tyler Buter) worked his way clear to lead to a first quarter of 28 1/5. Barn Holden took over right after the quarter and led to the half in 56 4/5. He would remain in control as he started to open up nearing three-quarters in 1:25 4/5, but Berkery J ($13.60) made his move from third as they made the turn for home and took over at mid-stretch while holding off a late surge from second-place finisher Chaptiama (Trond Smedshammer) and Barn Holden in third.

The final time of 1:54 2/5 was a lifetime best for Berkery J.

Berkery J is a 3-year-old colt by Chapter Seven. He is owned by Kenneth Jacobs and trained by George Ducharme. He is one-for-one in 2020 and now owns four career victories.

Vernon Downs return to live racing on Thursday (June 25) with a 13-race card at 4 p.m.

-edited release (Vernon)