Yonkers: Roll Away Joe, Artmagic grab New York Sire Stakes wins

Roll Away Joe and Artmagic posted slight upset victories in a pair of $83,937 New York Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Friday night.

In the first split, Fine Diamond (George Brennan) was in the lead through panels of 28 2/5, 58, and 1:26 1/5, but Roll Away Joe (Matt Kakaley) came through in the passing lane off a pocket trip to defeat the pace-setter by three-quarters of a length in 1:53 4/5. Public choice Missile J (Jim Morrill Jr.), making his first start at Yonkers since winning the Art Rooney there last month, was third after a second-over trip.

Tracy Brainard trains Roll Away Joe, a gelding by Roll With Joe, for owners Howard Taylor, Steve Demeter, and Thomas Lazzaro of Pennsylvania and New York. Roll Away Joe broke his maiden in his 14th start, and he has now earned $66,596. Sent off at 4-1, Roll Away Joe paid $10.40

Concur (Brent Holland) made the lead at the 28 3/5 opening quarter in the other split, but Artmagic (Brennan) popped the pocket to take command before the 58 2/5 half. Artmagic would go on to reach three-quarters in 1:26 1/5, and then he held on through the lane to win by a neck in 1:55 1/5. Even-money choice Craftship (Scott Zeron) raced first-over in the back half and wound up second, and Autotune Hanover (Morrill Jr.) rode his cover to a third-place finish.

The winner, a gelded son of Art Major, is trained by Trond Smedshammer for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC. of New York. Artmagic is now a three-time victor from 13 attempts, and he has banked $124,038. A 5-2 shot, Artmagic returned $7.60.