By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — The $121,500 New York Sire Stakes(NYSS) for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters rolled into Batavia Downs onWednesday evening (Sept. 13) and the track record for that age, sex and gait,which is also the all-time track trotting mark of 1:54.3 set by Archangel in2012 was tied by his son, Top Flight Angel (Archangel-Top Photo).

Paul White photo

Top Flight Angel tied the all-time track trotting mark of 1:54.3 set by Archangel in 2012, Wednesday night at Batavia Downs.

In the first $60,200 division, Top Flight Angel(Andy Miller) left the gate, took the lead and called all the shots from there.Travelling well in hand and totally unchallenged the entire mile, Top FlightAngel set quarter fractions of :29, :58.2 and 1:26.2 while opening up afive-length advantage in the process. With the fans on hand aware of the trackstandard, all eyes were simultaneously on the leader and the clock as TopFlight Angel cruised down the lane and won in 1:54.3, tying the mark.

“He was awesome; he just breezed around there. Helikes the half. It’s just a matter of getting him out of the gate and keepinghis attention. He’s got the (NYSS) final in a couple of weeks, the BreedersCrown if he’s up to it and a couple later stakes. So hopefully we’ll be goingto the Breeders Crown” said driver Andy Miller.

It was the fourth win of the year for the YonkersTrot champion, Top Flight Angel ($3.80) and it pushed his earnings for 2017 to$362,016 for owner Legendary Standardbred Farm. Julie Miller trains the winner.

In the second $61,300 division, Swell Chap (DrewMonti) left from post six and dropped in third as Icanflylikeanangel (Mickey McNichol) took the lead. The field was moving at a brisk clip (:28.1, :57.3) whenMonti pulled Swell Chap and started an outer flow in front of the grandstand.

Swell Chap drew alongside Icanflylikeanangel andthe two matched strides up the backstretch and around the last turn when StickWith Me Kid (Chris Lems) joined the party three-deep coming into the stretch.With the three across the track, Icanflylikeanangel gained a short advantage,but Swell chap swelled-up and came back under urging to win by a length in1:56.1.

“He raced awesome. He put in a good effort atBuffalo (Raceway on July 9) but I didn’t get the trip I wanted. I didn’t get ittonight either but he got the job done. He’s a nice horse” said driver DrewMonti.

The win was the sixth of the season for Swell Chap($11.60) whose earnings now total $157,451. Foge McKeever and Eldon Thompsonown Swell Chap (Chapter Seven-Gia) who is trained by Todd Rooney.

Two $15,000 Excelsior A series races were alsofeatured on the card Wednesday.

Big Man Ev (Chapter Seven-Possessed By Lindy) wonthe first division wire to wire in 1:56.4 with Andy Miller aboard. Big Man Ev($3.10) is owned by the Andy Miller Stable, the Lindy Racing Stable and HarveyEisman and is trained by Julie Miller.

Zack’s Zoomer (Deweycheatumnhowe-Passageway) won the seconddivision, cutting the mile in 1:55.2 for Jim Morrill Jr. Zack’s Zoomer is ownedby the Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and Harvey Eisman. Erv Miller does the training