Kenneth J wins on Night of Champions at Yonkers

September 16, 2007

The 3-year-old colt pacer Kenneth J won to surpass the million-dollar mark in career earnings when the $1.2 million New York Night of Champions returned to Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The evening featured eight New York Sire Stakes finals, each worth $150,000, and proved successful for two trainers who had multiple starters. Conditioner Linda Toscano, who found great success on the New York Sire Stakes circuit this year after her first finals win last year, had five starters on the Night of Champions, and swept the 3-year-old pacing events with Kenneth J and filly The Isle Of Pan.

Trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, who had eight starters in five different divisions, won with both the 3-year-old filly trotter Chippewa Street and the 2-year-old pacing colt Riggins. This doubled his career victories on the Night of Champions after winning events in 2003 and 2004.

Not only did Kenneth J pass a career earnings milestone in the 3-year-old colt pace, pushing his bankroll up to $1,072,904, but he also became a two-time New York Sire Stakes champion. The colt is only the 11th horse to successfully defend his freshman title in the 18-year history of the Night of Champions, and the second for owner Ken Jacobs, who also saw trotting filly Becca J score twice in the finals.

"You just have to keep them healthy, and that's Linda," Jacobs said, giving credit to trainer Linda Toscano for keeping his colt on top of the state-bred program for two years. "When a horse is easy on himself like Kenneth J, it's easy. He gives you his best every time, but takes care of himself."

While competing on the Grand Circuit this summer, Kenneth J started in just enough New York Sire Stakes � three -- to qualify for the final, and this victory gave the colt a perfect pair of bookends to his season in New York. The son of Bettor's Delight made his first start a winning one in the $153,000 Empire Breeders Classic in May, and closed the Sire Stakes with his 1:53.4 victory with driver Jim Morrill Jr. aboard.

Kenneth J used his post position on the rail to take the early lead, and despite being briefly covered by The Best, cruised home an impressive winner, by 2-1/4 lengths, over Forensic Z Tam.

"It's been a thrilling year," Toscano said. She remains the only woman to train a New York Sire Stakes Final winner. "We started out on the right note and were able to continue that. To see him start in his first 2-year-old race and get better, and then come back as a 3-year-old has been great."

Kenneth J, bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, will head next to Lexington, Ky. for the Bluegrass Stakes and the Tattersalls Pace.

Toscano also with the sophomore pacing filly The Isle Of Pan. Tony Morgan directed her first-over, and provided cover to the post time favorite, Pancleefandarpels, but held that one off by one-half a length to win in 1:56.

The Noble Ability filly never might have had a chance to win on the Night of Champions had she lost her final Sire Stakes leg. That victory was her first in the Sire Stakes this year.

"We didn't expect to get in the final. If she hadn't won at Batavia last time she wouldn't be here," Fred Wallace, the co-owner with Stake Your Claim Stable and David Dadetta, said.

"She's a real blue collar worker. She shows up and leaves her heart on the track," Wallace added. "We are really happy to win in New York. I've been coming here for racing since I was 10 years old."

The Isle Of Pan was bred by Peter Pan Stables and has won more than $200,000 this season.

Conway Court, the 9-5 favorite and one of three sophomore trotting colts starting from the Larry Remmen Stable, earned his victory with a mile-cutting, 2:00 victory. It was one of two wins in the finals for Jim Morrill, Jr., who drove in seven of the eight New York Sire Stakes on Saturday.

Starting from post position two, Conway Court gained control of the race at the quarter-mile marker and finished one length in front of Schnittker�s second place finisher, New Hampshire Boy. The winner is owned by Paolo Rosanelli and John Siena.

"He got a good position and the horse never gave up. I knew he had talent," Rosanelli said in the winner's circle. "We got lucky because of a good post position, a good drive and the horse is in top shape right now. This is the best horse of my whole life."

Conway Court, a Conway Hall half-brother to Credit Winner, was bred by White Birch Farm. He has earned more than $235,000 this year.

Chippewa Street paved the way to victory in the final for 3-year-old trotting fillies by cruising up the passing lane to beat Aiken For Clay by a nose, in a soft 2:01.

Ray Schnittker trains, drove and co-owns this filly with Steve Demeter and breeder Herb Burns. The trainer also started the coupled Ada Girl, who finished out of the money.

"She is just a better filly and I wanted to be behind her," Schnittker said about his choice to steer Chippewa Street.

The Credit Winner filly earned her fourth win of the year and bumped her lifetime earnings over $180,000.

In an overflowing winner's circle, Schnittker offered, "I have a great bunch of owners and it's a lot of fun racing with them."

Schnittker and Demeter previously earned a Sire Stakes Final win with Last Call At Dem's, in 2003. He also won in 2004 with Twin B Senorita.

Schnittker earned his second win of the night in the very next race with Riggins, the 2-year-old Art Major pacing colt who cruised through the Sire Stakes legs this year by winning or finishing second in each one.

Riggins, who has been ultra-consistent this year, gave driver and trainer Ray Schnittker back-to back stakes wins on Saturday

Riggins covered up his rival, Share The Delight, the only colt to beat him in New York this year, as they proceeded to the half. He led the rest of the way and held off Share The Delight and driver Stephane Bouchard as they charged late on the inside and won by a length at the wire, in 1:56.

"He reaches down, like tonight, and really tries. I was worried about Bouchard's horse late, but he wasn't a problem," Schnittker said. "He's really handy and when you ask him for a burst of speed; he can really turn it on."

Riggins was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and will head to Lexington, Ky. for his next starts, and then possibly to the Breeders Crown.

Trainer Jim Raymer scored a unique Exacta when his freshmen trotting fillies Happy Ticket and Nirvana Blue Chip finished one-two in their New York Sire Stakes Final.

Driver Cat Manzi and Happy Ticket scored by three-quarter lengths over her stablemate, in 2:00.1, a new Night of Champions record. The two horses dominated the race, with Happy Ticket leading to a :29 first quarter. At the 1:00 half, Nirvana Blue Chip took the lead and remained there until Manzi got Happy Ticket out of the pocket and up through the passing lane in the final steps.

"I was glad Cat gave her a shot to get off the gate," Raymer said about Happy Ticket's early move to the front.

Last week, Happy Ticket made an uncharacteristic break in her Sire Stakes at Monticello Raceway, but rebounded well on Saturday for her fourth victory this year.

"It gets to be a long season. She broke last week, probably because she was a little tired from the previous start (at Yonkers)," Raymer said about his Malabar Man filly.

Happy Ticket, bred by Winbak Farm and owned by Trillium Racing Stable, is scheduled to compete next in the International Stallion Stakes and the Goldsmith Maid.

The betting favorite Napoleon proved to be an emotional winner for his connections when the 2-year-old Credit Winner colt cut the mile to win his final in 1:59.1 with Stephane Bouchard in the seat. Sidney Korn owns Napoleon with Ken Tucci, Larry Thomases and John Guarniere. The colt was bred by Korn's former partner, Al Jacobson, who passed away earlier this year.

"My partner, who was not able to be here, would have really enjoyed this," Korn said. "He always wanted to breed a champion, and with a Breeders Crown champion (Mystical Sunshine), and now this, he would have been very proud."

Although the event looked to be dominated by Napoleon, Korn was a little nervous as he watched.

"I was afraid of Ace High Hall (second-over) and I believed the race was set up for a come from behind winner. But it didn't work out that way," Korn added.

Napoleon is trained by Noel Daley. He has now won five of his eight career starts and $184,793.

The freshman pacing filly Kissing Bandit used a pocket trip to edge Artimittateslife by 1-1/2 lengths, in 1:56.2, in her final.

Kissing Bandit, the betting favorite, drafted behind JK Majorette during the entire race and flew by in the stretch to win for owners Mentally Stable and the Robert Cooper Stables.

"When (Jim Morrill) came (with JK Majorette) I didn't let him go that easy because I didn't want to let the fractions be too easy," winning driver Yannick Gingras said. "We got the perfect trip and there were four or five in this race that could've won."

"She's really improved. The plan tonight was to try to lead," Gingras said. "I cut Jimmy loose and we were lucky enough to win. She's got a great family and she's very well gaited."

The Art Major filly was bred by John Stoddard. She now has won $135,179 in her career for trainer Ross Croghan. (NYSS)

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