Yonkers: Archon aces New York Sire Stakes test
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Archon, driven by trainer Dan Daley, led all the way in winning Monday night's (August 31) $156,600 New York Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Starting from post six, Archon landed on the front-end on the first turn when Uncle Rob (Andy Miller) made a break, and Archon would post fractions of 30 2/5, 1:00 2/5 and 1:29. Behind him, 4-5 favorite Bailey J (Jason Bartlett) watched from fourth before he was guided to the outside past the half and was able to drop into the pocket ahead of a gapping Bigtime Chapter (Matt Kakaley) past three-quarters.
On the final turn Archon bore out an extra lane, which gave Bailey J every chance to go by him on the inside, but he was unable to, as Archon held him off by three-quarters of a length in a 1:58 mile. Bigtime Chapter wound up third, followed by Magic Musk (Jim Pantaleano).
A Chapter Seven colt bred by Lina Alm, Archon is owned by James Crawford, Timothy Drag and Rich Preziotti. Archon has two wins, a second and a third from six starts, has earned $163,510 and paid $7.44 to win. He led an $18.68 exacta and a $60.82 trifecta.
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Two $20,000 New York Excelsior Series divisions were won by Leader Kronos (by Chapter Seven and bred by Kjell Andersen and Aetos Dios Ab, paid $45.46 to win) in 1:59 4/5 for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and owner/trainer Evan White and Telling Tall Tales (by Back Of The Neck and bred by Runthetable Stables, paid $2.94 to win) in 1:59 2/5 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Rob Harmon and owners Harmon Racing Stable LLC., Billy Muggleston and Robert Robinson.
In other action on Monday, Sweet Beach Life (Kakaley) won the $43,000 Invitational Pace on the engine from post eight in 1:51 2/5 for his ninth consecutive victory. The 2024 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes champion is a 5-year-old Sweet Lou gelding trained by Travis Alexander for owner A Sweet Beach Life Stable.
As the calendar turns to September, MGM Yonkers Raceway will have live racing on Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday the rest of this week, then will be open Monday through Thursday and Saturday the following week, with Friday (September 11) dark in preparation for the MGM Yonkers International Trot program. Post time is 6:45 p.m. (EDT) except on those two Saturday cards, which kick off at 3:30 p.m. on September 5 and 11:50 a.m. on September 12, which is MGM Yonkers International Trot Day.
Following the MGM Yonkers International Trot Day card, MGM Yonkers Raceway will shift back to its Monday through Friday live schedule with first race post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).