The New York Sire Stakes for 2-year old colt and gelding trotters were in town on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs, and the track records were rewritten when they left.
RC Serpent and Dan Daley posted the fastest division of the day, and chalked-up a new track record for 2-year-old colt trotters, in 1:58.1. Daley sat third behind the dueling leaders, Carbon Footprint (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and Big Stick Lindy (Ray Schnittker), as the field raced past the three-quarters, in 1:27.2. At the top of the stretch, Daley tipped the freshman colt trotter three-wide and swooped the leaders, in what was also a new lifetime mark.
The 2-year-old son of Conway Hall--Dixie Crystal is owned by Daley, Crawford, Lombardo, and Highland Green Farms. It was the second win in three lifetime starts for RC Serpent, who with the victory increased his season’s earnings to more than $29,000. Carbon Footprint (Jim Morrill, Jr.) hung on for second, while Pizza Dolce’s full brother, Big Stick Lindy (Ray Schnittker), hung-on for third.
Margarita Man and Ray Schnittker left from post position seven, and went right to the top through fractions of :29.2, :59.3, and 1:28.2 before coasting home and easy winner, in 1:59. Margarita Man and Schnittker eclipsed the previous record for 2-year-old gelding trotters, held by Di Manggio and Donttellmywife, of 1:59.3.
It was the third win in three lifetime starts for Margarita Man, who has yet to be tested, as he has won all of his starts by open lengths. The 2-year-old son of Malabar Man--Margarita Miss is owned by the Margarita Man Stable of Middleton, N.Y., which trainer-driver Ray Schnittker is also a shareholder in. Margarita Man was purchased for $35,000, and with the win has already banked more than $32,000 in his first three starts.
Other division winner’s for 2-year-old colt trotters included Whata Winner (Jim Doherty), in 2:01.2; Carnegie (Jim Morrill, Jr.), in 1:58.3; Credit Wind (Brian Mattison), in 1:59.2; and Shaq Is Back (Ray Schnittker), in 1:58.4.
Jim Morrill, Jr. posted a driving triple on the afternoon’s 12-race card, while Ray Schnittker and Stephane Bouchard enjoyed driving doubles. (Tioga)