Single $106,300 NYSS division to be contested at Batavia
At 0h41, on July 26, 2023 • By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs
The New York Sire Stakes will be on hand at Batavia Downs for opening night of the 2023 summer/fall season on Wednesday (July 26) when seven 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings line up for a big payday of $106,300.
With only a handful of starts among this relatively even group, it could be anyone’s race to win as these fast developing freshmen can throw a big mile at any time from week to week.
The oddsmaker’s choice is the two-for-one entry of Bargain (Chapter Seven-Batoutahill) and Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility).
Bargain has two wins and a second in three starts this year while showing versatility over three different size tracks. One of those wins was a victory in the $77,300 NYSS at Yonkers in his first career outing in 1:59.1. The following week he lowered his lifetime mark to 1:56.4 at The Meadowlands, closing in :27.3 in the $20,000 Kindergarten event. His current earnings are $62,525 and he is poised to add to that total in this race. Bargain likes the front-end and leaving from post four, he should definitely be in charge of this group from the start. James McDonald will steer Bargain for trainer Nancy Takter.
Keep Asking has yet to win in two starts but recovered nicely after an early break in his first start to finish second in the NYSS at Yonkers and then bounced back with a fourth place, 1:56 clocking at Tioga Downs where he was parked for the better part of the mile. Post seven may be a tough task. Jim Morrill Jr. will be in the bike behind Keep Asking for trainer George Ducharme.
A big threat will be looming from Situationship (Chapter Seven-Meegan Hall) who made a big three-wide move at three-quarters last week in the NYSS at Tioga, where he finished second in a 1:55.1 mile off a :28.4 final quarter. Situationship has displayed extreme closing speed in two 2-year-old non-betting events this year at The Meadowlands and will be stalking the leader in the last stages of this race. Trainer Ake Svanstedt will be driving Situationship.
There are also three $20,000 Excelsior divisions in races two, four and six.
Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.
