Chapter Seven colts sweep $157,400 NYSS

Crown (Chapter Seven-Amour Heiress) and The Gruffalo (Chapter Seven-Clementine Dream) were sent off as heavy favorites in the two $78,700 New York Sire Stakes events for 2-year-old colt and gelding harness racing trotters on Tuesday night (August 23) at Yonkers Raceway, and both of them would go home with victories.

Driven by Brian Sears in the first division, Crown got away in third from post one but was brought to the outside racing to the 29.1 opening quarter and cleared The Strawboss (Jason Bartlett) for the lead after that marker.

From that point, Crown cruised through fractions of 58.4 and 1:28.3 and then used a 29 second last quarter to draw off and win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:57.3.

Crown’s entrymate Onion Gum (Jordan Stratton) finished second after a first-over trip out of fourth in the last quarter, and Seven Over (Tyler Buter) rallied from sixth to third.

CROWN REPLAY

Crown was bred by Order By Stable and is trained by Marcus Melander for owner S R F Stable. Crown, who sold for $250,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has won all four of his starts, and he has now earned $104,075. He paid $2.20 to win as part of a 1-9 entry and keyed a $70.00 exacta and a $215.50 trifecta.

In the other split, Wild Bill Kelso (Stratton) stepped to the front from post five, but Tyler Buter had The Gruffalo out and on the move from third as  raced in the backstretch for the first time, and The Gruffalo overtook Wild Bill Kelso beyond the 29.2 optheyening quarter.

After he had command, The Gruffalo backed down the tempo to 59.1 at the half and 1:29.1 at three-quarters, and a 29.2 kicker got him to the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Wild Bill Kelso in a 1:58.3 effort. Cecil Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) finished third after stalling out from first-over going to three-quarters.

THE GRUFFALO REPLAY

Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns The Gruffalo, a colt who was bred by Concord Stud Farm and bought for $75,000 at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale, with partners Racing Team Of America, Deena Frost, and Emma Pettersson. The Gruffalo has compiled a record of 3-1-0 from five appearances, pushed his bankroll to $93,075, and returned $2.90 to win as the 2-5 favorite. The exacta was worth $10.80 and the trifecta kicked back $72.50.

Sears swept the pair of $15,000 New York Excelsior “A” Series tests for rookie trotting males on the card with Kaleun (Chapter Seven, 2:00) and Maximum Express (Credit Winner, 2:01.1). Kaleun bred by Winbak Farm, is also trained by Melander for owner Courant Inc.. Maximum Express, bred by Dunroven Stud, is co-owned by trainer Josh Kinney in partnership with James De Armond.

There was also a single, non-wagering $6,400 New York Excelsior “B” Series tilt that occurred, and Makes Me Charlie, by Met’s Hall and bred by David Hanson, scored in 2:00.2 for driver Todd Cummings, trainer Tammy Cummings, and owners Margaret and Amy Butler.

Racing at Yonkers will resume on Thursday night (August 25). Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday live schedule with post time at 6:55 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

From Yonkers Raceway