Eight $200,000 NYSS Finals Saturday at Tioga

The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) harness racing finals featuring eight divisions racing for a purse of $200,000 each comes to Tioga Downs on Saturday afternoon (September 10).

The first final of the day will be for 2-year-old trot for colts & geldings.  The Unbeaten, Crown (Chapter Seven-Amour Heiress, Brian Sears) should be the one to beat.  The colt is trained by Marcus Melander.  He is four for four in his young career.  He has NYSS wins at Yonkers, Tioga, Vernon, and Saratoga.

His main rival should be the Mark Harder trained The Gruffalo (Chapter Seven-Clementine Dream, Dexter Dunn).  The colt has three wins in six career starts including NYSS wins at Yonkers, Vernon, and Saratoga.  She finished second to Crown at Tioga.

Kayleigh S (Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S, Brian Sears) Is the 2-1 morning line choice for the 2-year-old filly trot final.  Marcus Melander trains the filly.  She has NYSS wins at Saratoga, Batavia, and Buffalo in her five career starts.

The Robert Krivelin trained Woolco (Chapter Seven-upside Hanover, Tyler Buter) is the 3-1 second choice.  The filly is two for five in her young career.  She has NYSS wins at Yonkers and Monticello.

The R Nifty Norman trained Duval Street (Huntsville-Native Bride, Brian Sears) looks to be the one to beat in the 2-year-old pacing colts & geldings final.  The gelding has NYSS wins at Yonkers and Vernon.

Three-time winner Blue Hunt (Huntsville-All On Top Hanover, Wally Hennessey) is the 3-1 second choice.  The gelding is trained by Erica Chartrand.  She has NYSS wins at Tioga, Vernon, and Saratoga.

Vivians Dream (American Ideal-Sports Chic, Jordan Stratton) Is the 2-1 morning line favorite for 2-year-old filly pace final in what looks to be a great three-way battle for the top prize.  Cory Mumford trains the filly.

Among her six victories was an exciting win in a NYSS leg at Vernon Downs.  She popped the pocket and wore down Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze) in the stretch to win in a track record time of 1:50.4.  She has won over $200,000 in purses this year.

Revenged-minded Twin B Joe Fresh (Dexter Dunn) is the 3-1 second choice.  Chris Ryder trains the filly who just fell short of Warrawee Ubeaut’s world record (1:48.3) by getting a Kentucky Championship Series win at the Red Mile in 1:48.4.  She has four wins and two second in six lifetime starts.

Do not count out the Brett Pelling trained Earthwindfire (American Ideal-Road Bet) with Tim Tetrick.  She has handed Vivians Dream her only loss by winning a NYSS leg at Yonkers.

Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell (Chapter Seven, Tim Tetrick) leads a field of nine in the 3-year-old trotting colts & geldings final.  The gelding is trained by Jim Campbell.  He has four wins this season and seven victories in his career.  He has won nearly 800,000 in his career and would love to add the NYSS title to his resume.

Stanley Dancer Memorial winner, Slay (Chapter Seven, Joe Bongiorno) looks to be his top contender.  The colt is trained by Tony Alagna.  He has four wins this season and has six career victories.  He has won over $375,000 in his career.

The phenomenal Joviality S (Chapter Seven, Brian Sears) will be the over-whelming favorite in the 3-year-old filly trotter division final.  Marcus Melander trains the filly.  She was second in the Hambletonian and is unbeaten in NYSS action.  She has eight wins in 10 starts this season.  The fabulous filly has 17 career victories and has amassed nearly 1.7 million in purses lifetime.

Valentina Blu (Chapter Seven, Joe Bongioro) has proven to be a formidable opponent to Joviality S.  Trained by Tony Alagna she led Joviality S as they reached the stretch just last week during a NYSS leg at Tioga.  Joviality S wore her down in deep stretch but none the less the filly showed she is a contender.  She has three wins this season and four career victories.  She is just short of $500,000 in earnings during her career.

The Travis Alexander trained Pleaseletmeknow (American Ideal, Matt Kakaley) is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the 3-year-old colts & geldings pace final.  The gelding has seven wins this season including the $300,000 MGM Messenger final at Yonkers.  He has 10 career victories including a lifetime best time of 1:50.3 during a NYSS leg ran at Tioga on 8-21-22.

Seven Hundred (Jim Morrill Jr.) is the 3-1 second choice.  Jake Leamon trains the colt by Huntsville.  He has four wins this season including NYSS wins at Vernon, Batavia, and Tioga.

Gotthegreenlight (American Ideal, Jason Bartlett) looks to be the one to beat in the 3-year-old filly pace final.  The filly is trained by R. Nifty Norman.  She has six wins this season including NYSS wins at Buffalo, Vernon, Tioga, and Yonkers (track record time of 1:51.3).  She has won over $470,000 in her career.

Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) winner Valar Dohaeris (Huntsville, Mark MacDonald) looks to be the toughest opponent.  Ake Svanstedt trains the filly.  She has four wins, two seconds, and two thirds in eight starts this season.

The 10-race card starts at 1 pm.  It will be followed by another 10-race card starting at 6:15 p.m.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Horne, for Tioga Downs