Windfall Blue Chip's 1:54.4 fastest in NYSS

He's Gorgeous, last year’s 2-year-old New York Sire Stakes champion pacer, won for the first time this year in 1:55.4 for owner Ken Jacobs here at Buffalo Raceway Sunday afternoon (June 20). With only four divisions contested, each division was worth $39,638.

 

The prohibitive favorite in the race, He’s Gorgeous ($2.40) settled in fourth as Real Gentleman (Jim Morrill, Jr.) hit the quarter in :28.3. Real Gentleman broke soon after and caused mass confusion, which He’s Gorgeous and driver Jason Bartlett, were lucky to avoid. Bartlett put He’s Gorgeous on the lead and hit the half in :58.1., and three-quarters in 1:27.2. A 28.2 last quarter-mile put the winner 6-3/4 lengths in front of Bullish Blue Chip (Kevin Cummings) at the finish line. Mystery Island (Stephane Bouchard) came in third.

 

"He’s a pretty handy horse and he had to be", said Bartlett with a laugh. "With all the traffic problems in the race, I thought he handled himself really well."

 

Trained by Linda Toscano, the $19,819 share of the winning purse put He’s Gorgeous’ lifetime earnings at $345,266. It was his 10th win in 15 lifetime starts.

 

The fastest mile of the afternoon was turned in by Windfall Blue Chip and reinsman Jim Morrill, Jr., who also won for the first time this year with a 1:54.4 clocking by the Art Major offspring. Leaving from post seven in the field of eight, Windfall Blue Chip, quickly took command of the race and set all the fractions, :28.4, :56.3 and 1:25.2. He beat second place finisher Upfront Cosmo (Jason Bartlett) by 3-1/4 lengths.

 

“I waited to see how he felt, before I took off with him”, said Morrill. “Once we got to the lead, he was just fine."

 

George Teague Jr., trains Windfall Blue Chip who now has $283,361 in lifetime earnings.

 

The other Sire Stakes winner’s were Screenplay ($4.00) and driver Jimmy Whittemore, who in just four starts, remains undefeated, and Forty Carrots ($11.00) with Brian Allen in the sulky.  (Buffalo)