by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Tuesday night (June 26), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $158,000 Jim Meagher Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Three consecutive divisions — worth $53,000, $52,000 and $53,000, respectively — comprised the event, which again honored the memory of the Raceway’s long-time corporate controller.

Tuesday was the first sire stakes event for the frosh, the majority of whom were making their purse debuts.

In the opening division odds-on World On Edge (Matt Kakaley, $3.80), from post position No. 2, took over passing a :28.4 opening quarter-mile, then finished it off from there (:58.2, 1:28.3, 1:57.1). He defeated KJ Leo (George Brennan) by 1-3/4 lengths, with 36-1 outsider Hurrikane Kingklee (Dan Dube), Covered Bridge (Brian Sears) and Starship Trooper (Tim Tetrick) grabbing the minors.

For World On Edge, a son of Roll With Joe-Inanotherworld co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Joe DiScala Jr., J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Adriano Sorella, it was his pari-mutuel debut. The exacta paid $7.60, the triple retuned $68 and the superfecta paid $297.

Mike Lizzi photo

Melodie’s Major tickled the timer in an event’s-fastest 1:55.3.

The evening’s second grouping was an unfair fight as Melodie’s Major (Tyler Buter, $7.60) tickled the timer in an event’s-fastest 1:55.3. From post No. 5, he two-moved around Bean (Jason Bartlett) before a :30 quarter, then gave nothing else a chance (:59.2, 1:27.3 in between). Melodie’s Major widened to four lengths in and out of the final turn, lost Bean — who eventually broke in the lane — then defeated slight 2-1 favorite Bicorne Hanover (Kakaley) by eight lengths. Third went to Jojo’s Place (Corey Callahan), recovering from a nasty break at the start, with slow-starting Jet Rock (Brian Sears) and Hestons Blue Chip (Jordan Stratton) settling for the remainder.

For third choice Melodie’s Major, an Art Major-Hilarious colt owned by Martin Scharf and trained by Mark Ford, he was another making his career purse bow. The exacta paid $19.20, the triple retuned $63 and the superfecta paid $297, same payout as previous race.

“I didn’t even ask him,” Buter said. “I drove him twice in (Pocono) qualifiers and he impressed me. I think I’m going to stay with him.”

The evening’s final get-together saw Major Blake (Tim Tetrick, $5.90), from post No. 3, complete his appointed rounds (:29, :58.4, 1:27.4, 1:56). The final margin was 2-1/2 lengths. Jack Nation (Mark MacDonald) rallied for second, with Buddy Hill (Scott Zeron) third. Shanghai Bobby (Bartlett), pocketed as the 3-5 choice, but apparently wasn’t crazy about it. He vacated passing three-quarters to challenge, was rebuffed and backpedaled to fourth. Blissful Road (Buter) was fifth.

For second choice Major Blake, a son of Art Major-Bet Your Life co-owned by trainer Sam Schillaci, Matthew Bencic and Howard Berke, he, too, was another first starter. The exacta paid $50.50, the triple retuned $369.50 and the superfecta paid $454.

The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Tuesday’s (July 3) Hugh Grant Trot (2-year-old fillies, purse TBA).