Freshman trotting males to race in NYSS

Vernon Downs welcomes two harness racing divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday (July 25). Both divisions race for a purse of $54,000.

Berkery J (Jason Bartlett) is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the first division. The 2-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-Southwind Catlin is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by George Ducharme. He has one win in three starts in his career. He won a NYSS race at Yonkers.

The second choice at 3-1 is the entry of Barn Holden (Kevin Cummings) and Bluffinner (Trond Smedshammer). Barn Holden is a 2-year-old colt by Conway Hall-Barn Babe. He is owned the Purple Haze Stables, Out In the Country Stable, Nancy Pratt, and trainer Steven Pratt. He got his only career victory in a leg of the NYSS at Yonkers. Bluffinner is a 2-year cold by Credit Winner-Bluff. He is owned by the Purple Haze Stables and trained by Smedshammer. It will be his first career race.

The Ake Svanstedt trained entry of Third Shift (Jim Morrill Jr.) and R Herbie Blue Chip (Svanstedt) is the 2-1 morning line choice in the second division. Third Shift is a 2-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-Overnight Command, who is owned by Melby Gard Inc. He has a NYSS win at Tioga Downs. R Herbie Blue Chip is a 2-year-old colt by Here Comes Herbie-New Hampshire Girl. He is owned by Svanstedt, Blue Chip Bloodstock, and Herbert Burns III. The colt finished third his last time out.

Bourbon Express (Jason Bartlett) is the second choice at 3-1. He is owned by trainer Jessica Okusko, Slavatore Vullo, and James De Armond. The 2-year-old colt by RC Royalty-Kasha has two wins in three career starts including a NYSS win at Buffalo.

The 10 race card at Vernon Downs starts at 6:10 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com

John Horne

for Vernon Downs