NYSS action at Saratoga

It was a big night for Ray Schnittker and John Stark Jr. on Wednesday at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway as New York Sire Stakes 2-year-old trotting colts took center stage on a picturesque night for harness racing action in the Spa city.

 

Schnittker continued his success in the Sire Stakes circuit as he trained and drove two winners on the card. Margarita Man (Malabar Man-Margarita Miss) moved his win streak to four to start his budding career as Schnittker put the freshman trotter on the lead and they never looked back before hanging on in 2:02.

 

Schnittker’s other NYSS win came with his Shaq Is Back (Credit Winner-Vivica Hall) who made his second straight trip back to the winner’s circle behind a lukewarm, but effective 2:04.4 victory.

 

Stark piloted his Jackson Leebrook (Conway Hall-South Jersey Angel) to an 8 3/4-length win in 2:00.4 as the race’s big favorite, Big Stick Lindy, broke and the young trotter took full advantage. The time shared NYSS speed-badge honors for the evening, as Brad Kramer drove the Dream Vacation-Our Maggie Rose gelding Kona also to a 2:00.4 victory.

 

The other stakes winners on the night were Carnegie (Conway Hall-Motivational, Jim Morrill Jr.) and Credit Wind (Credit Winner-US Victory, Brian Mattison), who is trained by Saratoga-based Paul Kelley. (Saratoga)