There were two divisions of New York Sire Stakes action for three year old colt and gelding trotters contested on Wednesday evening at Saratoga Casino Hotel and two horses who have been winning machines in Stakes action continued their winning ways. The fastest of the $74,500 divisions of the NYSS went the way of the Jim Campbell-trained Hobbs (Credit Winner-Cruella De Ville-Yankee Glide) who scored his fourth consecutive victory with Jason Bartlett in the sulky. Hobbs powered out to the early lead on Wednesday and never looked back, stopping the timer in 1:56 to continue what has already been a monster sophomore campaign for the talented gelding. His race’s 4-5 betting favorite, Hobbs was tested briefly in the stretch by rival Barn Holden (Mark Macdonald) who finished second to keep his streak alive of hitting the board in all seven starts on the campaign. Take The Credit (Trond Smedshammer) finished third. Hobbs is owned by Runthetable Stables of Montvale, NJ.
The other division went to Trond Smedshammer’s Chaptiama (Chapter Seven-Crediama-Credit Winner) who continued his winning ways with a decisive wire-to-wire score as the 2-5 betting favorite in his division. Smedshammer got a comfortable first half for Chaptiama who went untested in a first lap in 59.1 before the super sophomore trotted his back half in 57 seconds en route to a 1:56.1 score. It was the third victory in a row and third on the season for Chaptiama who earned over $182,000 as a freshman in ’19 and is poised to match or surpass that number in what has been a terrific start to his 2020 campaign. Chaptiama, who is owned by Purple Haze Stables of Fairport, NY, bested runner-up Ballcapsnbluejeans (Mark Macdonald) who had to settle for second and Beerthirty K (Tyler Buter) who came up third best.
Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee featuring more NY Sire Stakes action as two year old colt and gelding trotters come to town. First post time is set for 12 Noon.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
