Yonkers: Travel Playlist tops NY Sire Stakes champions

Harness fans are going to want to add a new name to their playlist. That became a certainty after Travel Playlist and driver Marcus Miller crushed the field in the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes championship final for juvenile pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway. The son of Art Major flashed explosive speed in the opening quarter getting by Joe Larry And Curly through a 26 2/5 opening quarter and then cruising to victory in 1:54 3/5.

Travel Playlist, fresh off a 1:49 2/5 NYSS victory at Vernon, won for the fifth straight time during his career without defeat while leaving 65-1 shot Fine Diamond and Autotune Hanover in his dust for second and third, respectively.

“He stepped out of there and I wanted to get the front,” said Miller following the race. “He’s a really smart colt and I was able to back him down.”

With a soft middle half Travel Playlist cruised a 29 1/5 final quarter to victory.

“I don’t know how good he can be. I’m real excited about this horse,” said Miller, who drove for his dad, trainer Erv Miller, and owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, Ron Michelon, Taylor Made Stables and Fred Hertrich III.

Non Stick remained unbeaten as well capturing the $225,000 final for juvenile trotting fillies. The daughter of Lucky Chucky got the front past the quarter and cruised in 1:58 2/5 over Dazzling Dollars, with Goosebump Hanover finishing third.

“She keeps getting better and better,” said Dan Dube, the winning driver.

Ake Svanstedt trains and co-owns the filly with Jeff Gural’s Little E LLC.

Dime A Dance and driver Matt Kakaley took advantage of a hectic early pace to score in the New York Sire Stakes championship for juvenile pacing fillies. The filly from the first crop of Roll With Joe sat in reserve early as American Ivy worked hard for the lead in 26 3/5 at the quarter and then yielded to Soft Idea. That filly lead the field through a half in 55 3/5 and thee quarters in 1:24 1/5, but that pace proved too strong and in the stretch Dime A Dance rolled by with Time On My Hands rallying inside for second. Soft Idea held on for third.

“She’s a sweetheart,” said Matt Kakaley, the winning driver. “It set up perfectly for her.”

Our Horse Cents Stable, Blue Chip Bloodstock and Jerry and Theresa Silva own Dime A Dance.

Brian Sears guided Allerage Echo to an impressive 1:57 2/5 victory in the Sire Stakes final for trotting colts and geldings. Trained by George Ducharme, the altered son of Conway Hall took control past the quarter and never looked back in a race that saw heavily favored and formerly unbeaten Dayson make a few breaks.

Allerage Echo, who is owned by Ken Jacobs, completed his season with five wins in nine career starts while defeating Smalltownthrowdown and Reve Royale in the process.

“He’s really handy on a half mile track,” said Ducharme after the victory. “He’s done for the year. We’ll turn him out and prepare him for next year.”