Sunday, September 16, 2012

Doctor Butch leads New York Sire Stakes winners on Saturday night



Doctor Butch and Just Bettor became the fastest local colt and gelding, respectively, of 2012 during Saturday night's $171,464 New York Sire Stakes-sponsored program for state-bred 2-year-old pacers at Vernon Downs.

Doctor Butch wins in 1:52
The colt Doctor Butch equaled his 1:52 win record with a front-striding performance in Saturday's sixth race, opening division of a $120,064 regular New York Sire Stake, while Just Bettor established the season's swiftest mile by an altered freshman with his bold-going 1:53.2 effort in the 11th event, fourth and final division of the NYSS's Excelsior Series contest.

Jim Morrill, Jr. did the teaming for noted trainer Linda Toscano in the first of two standard NYSS segments, as the favorite Doctor Butch ($3.80) continued his strong season's showing with a 3-1/4 length triumph over the John Campbell-driven second wagering choice Hail The Taxi.  It marked the seventh victory, coupled with three second-place finishes, for the bay son of Art Major-Classical Yankee, who has returned more than $210,000 in 10 starts to owner Ken Jacobs.

Just Bettor ($12.60) had former Downs driving champion Brian Sears aboard as he rushed into the lead from third at the half and continued on to a career-best clocking, while improving his season's summary to 2-1-3 after eight outings for the Angelo Frassetto, Kenneth Klein, Old Block Stable and Team S Racing Stable.  The Bettor's Delight-Just Great offspring's strong showing provided Vernon's leading trainer Tracy Brainard with a double and her 58th victory of 2012 here.

Saturday's $60,032 10th race, the second standard NYSS test, was won by Framed Art in a career-fastest 1:52.3 mile.  Hall-of-Fame driver Campbell did the teaming as the bay son of Artiscape-Lo Gophobia rallied from fifth at the half and closed from second in the stretch to secure a head victory over the mile-cutting Bet The Moon.  The hard-charging effort improved the colt's performance line to 3-1-2 after eight appearances for owners Andrew Stafford, the trainer, and Arthur C. Stafford.

Saturday's other Excelsior Series winners were Bettorsluckystreak (Bettor's Delight-Cheeky Hanover) in 1:56.2 with Morrill, Jr. driving for trainer Gary Messenger and his ownership partners Kenneth Weckstein and Richard Rubin; Art Bettor Now (Bettor's Delight-Patsy's Art) in 1:55.1 with Jeff Gregory teaming for trainer Margaret Spagnola and owner Michael Polansky, and Clustercuss (Riverboat King-Happy Doris) in 1:55.4 with Sears steering for trainer Mark Ford and owner Robert O. Di Nozzi.

Saturday's $11,000 Open pace was won by newcomer Transcending, who raced around Vernon's 7/8ths-mile oval in a very impressive 1:50.1 mile showing.  Sears did the piloting for trainer Ron Burke as the 8-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear-Apopka Dream secured his seventh season's score and 31st lifetime triumph for the Lawrence Karr, Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables ownership contingent.  The sizzling score raised the quick-footed horse's lifetime winnings to $709,488.

Morrill, Jr. and Sears each collected four sulky scores during the 13-race program, while driver Chris Lems captured the first and last races on the card to earn his 11th double of the 70th-program meeting. Morrill, Jr.'s first-place finishes were in races 3-6.  

DOWNS DOINGS—Just Bettor's time was just two-fifths of a second off the all-time Vernon standard for frosh pacing geldings that was set by Memory King in 2011…Doctor Butch's clocking missed the freshman colt mark by one second.  That mark was set by Schoolkids in 2008...Vernon will offer live racing at 6:55 p.m. Thursday-Saturday next week…Additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.

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