NYSS 3YO Trotters in Rare Friday Afternoon Meeting

 Nick Salvi for Vernon Downs.

 

Vernon, NY - New York's finest 3-year-old trotters will converge on Vernon Downs this Friday afternoon to contest the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC), sponsored by the The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, NY Stallion Owners, Tioga Downs & Vernon Downs. 

 

Seven daughters of the state's leading sire of trotters, Chapter Seven, will face the starting gate in race 5 for a purse of $187,500. 

 

Joviality S has been superb throughout her career with victories in the New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) final, Breeders Crown final and Goldsmith Maid last year at two resulting in earnings just shy of $900,000 for the interests of Anders Strom via his nom de course of Courant, Incorporated.  

 

She has come back powerfully at age 3, with a pair of NYSS wins including a shockingly easy career best of 1:51.2 in her last over the Vernon oval on May 30. Brian Sears returns to the scene of his early lessons to drive Joviality S from post position five for trainer Marcus Melander. 

 

The competition is led by Crawford Farms' accomplished Valentina Blu, who consistently brings her "A" game and has earned over a third of a million dollars in her young career for trainer Tony Alagna. Andy McCarthy plots her course from post seven. 

 

The EBC colts number eight and will come along in race 7 for an identical amount of $187,500. 

 

Branded By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) currently sits atop the "Road to the Hambletonian" poll and has had one over the course with a 1:54.1 win last week in what was his first start of the season. He is the fastest of the field with a record of 1:52 taken at The Red Mile last fall for trainer Domenico Cecere. Lindy Farms bred and owns the precocious Chapter Seven colt who carries the Antonacci family's hopes for another Hambo win. 

 

Slay (Alagna/ Tim Tetrick), Justice (Ake Svanstedt) and Cool Papa Bell (Sears/Jim Campbell) will present legitimate competition for the EBC hardware. 

 

NYSS 3-year-old filly pacers are on the undercard and racing gets underway with the matinee post time of 12:15 on Friday. 

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com

SBOANJ and the Meadowlands Partner for Dining Promotion

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ - The Meadowlands Racetrack and the New Jersey Standardbred Breeders and Owners have joined in partnership to encourage SBOA members to attend the races at the Meadowlands on Friday and Saturday nights during the Championship meet which runs through Saturday, August 6. 

“Since the beginning of the pandemic we have seen a decline in horsemen attending the races so we wanted to partner with the SBOANJ to encourage their membership to return to the track,” said Jason Settlemoir, COO & GM of the Meadowlands Racetrack. “We hope this promotion will provide an incentive for horsemen to come to the track for a night of not only world-class racing but also world class buffet dining.”

A current SBOA NJ member in good standing with a horse racing that evening will be selected to receive dinner for four in Trotters and live race programs each Friday and Saturday night through August 5^th via a random weekly drawing.

To participate in the weekly drawings, SBOA members should make their dining reservations as usual with the Meadowlands by calling 201-The-BigM and mentioning that they are a SBOA member.

Once confirmed they should send an email to Jessica Otten jotten@playmeadowlands.com with the following info:

Subject Line: SBOA Dinner Promotion
Name of Reservation
Date of Reservation

Every Thursday a random drawing will be conducted with two names being selected – one dining on Friday and one dining on Saturday. Diners will also be selected for the three Thursday race cards (June 30, July 7 and August 4).

“We want to see our members back at the Meadowlands enjoy an exciting night at the races,” said SBOANJ President Mark Ford. “We hope our members will take advantage of this promotion.”

This dining promotion will begin Friday, June 17 and run through Friday, August 5.

For all racing and dining information at the Meadowlands Racetrack visit PlayMeadowlands.com

Branded By Lindy and Slay notch NYSS wins.

 John Horne for Vernon Downs 

Vernon Downs played host to two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for sophomore trotting colts and geldings on Friday afternoon (June 10). 

 

Branded By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) cruises to easy win in the $57,000 first division. 

 

Middleman (Brian Sears) went straight to the front and led to the first quarter in :29.0.  Branded By Lindy ($2.10) made his move as they headed for the backstretch going first-over from third.  He cleared the lead just before hitting the first half in :58.4.  He was first to three-quarters in 1:26.4. 

 

As they made the turn home Branded By Lindy just breezed down the stretch and won easily in 1:54.2.  Castle House (Tim Tetrick) came up late to finish second.  Middleman held on for third. 

 

Branded By Lindy is a 3-year-old colt by Chapter Seven.  He is owned 

by Lindy Farms Of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.  The 

colt is on top of Ken Warkentin’s road to the Hambletonian list.  He 

wins his first race as a sophomore colt and now has nine career 

victories. 

 

Slay (Tim Tetrick) charges late to capture the $57,000 second division. 

 

Slay ($9.00) took the lead and led the quarter in :28.0.  The big 

favorite Cool Papa Bell (Brian Sears) took over just before hitting the 

half first in :56.3.  Cool Papa Bell cruised to Three-quarters in 1:24.1. 

 

As they headed for home Cool Papa Bell was the one to beat.  When 

they reached mid-stretch Slay popped the pocket and eased on by to 

win in a lifetime best of 1:52.2.  Cool Papa Bell had to settle for 

second.  Velvet Style (Yannick Gingras) finished third. 

 

Slay is a 3-year-old colt by Chapter Seven.  He is owned by Crawford 

Farms Racing and James Crawford IV while trained by Tony Alagna.  It 

was his first win of the season.  He now has three career wins. 

 

Gingras and Cecere combined for three wins on the card.  They got 

their other wins with Sonny’s Moni ($2.60), and Raised By Lindy 

($2.20). 

 

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (June 11) with a 12-race card and a post time of 6:05 p.m.  

For more information, go to www.vernondowns.com.