Yonkers: Rookie trotting males take to the track in NY Sire Stakes events
On Monday evening (July 8th), Yonkers Raceway hosted the $150,300 New York Sire Stakes Michael Sorentino Trot for 2-year-old colts and geldings. A pair of $50,400 wagering races and a non-bettor comprised the event.
The opening on-the-card division saw a maiden-breaking Berkery J (Jason Bartlett, $7.10) go right down the road. From post position two, he had no issues (29 2/5, 59 4/5, 1:29 2/5, and 1:58 2/5). The final widening margin was 7 1/4 lengths over a way-too-late, even-money favorite Chaptiama (Trond Smedshammer). R Herbie Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) and Miserable Mike (John Stark Jr.) finished off the bottom of the gimmicks.
For second choice Berkery J, a son of Chapter Seven owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by George Ducharme, it was his first win in two seasonal/career starts. The exacta paid $13.20, the triple returned $78.50, and the superfecta paid $256.
”Very handy,” Bartlett said. “George (Ducharme) had him ready. He’s going to be a good half-mile (track) horse.”
The evening’s final state-sired event saw a three-wide Saylor (trainer Doug R. Ackerman doing honors himself) set ambitious fractions (28 1/5, 58 3/5, and 1:28.3), then hold well. However, he came under assault, first from pocket-pulling 9-10 choice Bourbon Express (Bartlett), then eventual winner Beerthirty K (Mike Simons, $12.20).
Away third from the pole, Beerthirty K was widest and fastest, drawing out to whip the people’s preference by a length and a half in 1:58. Saylor was third, despite being steppy though the lane, with Take The Credit (Svanstedt) fourth.
For third choice Beerthirty K, a Credit Winner colt trained by Bruce Borden for owner Don Atlas, it was his first win in pair of season/life tries. The exacta paid $26.80, the triple returned $196.50, and the superfecta paid $409.
“Bruce (Borden) has brought him along beautifully,” Simons said. “He hasn’t done anything wrong, and the trip here worked out for him.”
The $49,500 non-wagering sire stakes event was won by a down-the-road Barn Holden (Jeff Gregory) in 1:59. It was a first win for the homebred son of Conway Hall, co-owned by (trainer) Steve and Nancy Pratt, Purple Haze, and Out of the Country Stables.
--press release (Yonkers)--