Freshmen featured in NYSS action at Vernon

Tirade Hanover and Creditora became the fastest 2-year-old trotting gelding and colt, respectively, during Friday night’s $183,044 New York Sires Stakes-sponsored program at Vernon Downs.

 

Tirade Hanover ($6.30) remained undefeated after two freshman outings and lowered his speed badge to 1:57 with a bold going effort in the quickest of four NYSS divisions, which totaled $118,544, while Creditora ($11.40) claimed the 31-program meet’s fastest frosh colt trotting mark with a 1:57.2 come-from-behind effort in the final NYSS clash.

 

Howard Parker piloted the favorite Tirade Hanover in the seventh session, challenging for the lead from the start, taking command before the half, and then striding boldly to a two-length tally. The time clipped a full second off the brown gelding’s former speed mark, earned in an overnight event at Pocono Downs on June 26. Tyler Raymer conditions the son of Crazed-Teagarden Hanover for owners Leigh Nichol, Stephen Moss, Harold and Helane Solomon.

 

Two races later, Creditora advanced from fourth in the early going, challenged the pace-setting Explosive Action (Parker) entering the homestretch, and then drew off in the final furlong to win by a convincing

 

4-1/4 lengths. Trainer Trond Smedshammer did the teaming for Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables as the brown son of Credit Winner-New Royalty chalked up his season’s pari-mutuel debut in the victory column. He had previously won a pair of qualifying events.

 

Friday’s other NYSS segment winners were Stirling Bullet (2:00.2) and Flyhawk Blacknight (1:59.2).

 

Portfolio, a bay son of Sand Vic-Winbak Top driven by Stephane Bouchard for trainer Lee Dahn, an owner along with Larry Dahn and Arlene Dahn, led throughout the 10th contest and posted a 1:58 mile in the speediest of five flights in Friday’s $64,500 Excelsior Series for NY-bred freshman male members of the diagonal gait.

 

The other Excelsior Series victors were Columbia Lion (1:58.3), Bizzaro Lindy (2:00.3), Ruth-Like (2:01) and Ashe’s Cash (2:02.1).

 

Jim Morrill, Jr. and Bouchard each recorded driving doubles, while Rick Plano earned a pair of training credits during Friday’s 12-race program. (Vernon Downs)