by M. Kelly Young, executive director, Harness Horse Breeders of New York

Monticello, NY — The top performers in a summer-long points chase were on display in the New York County Fair Finals on Monday, September 10, at Monticello Raceway. Among the stars at the end of the day were sire Air Mail Hanover, whose sons swept the two trotting finals, and trainer Lonny Hale, who sent out both pacing champions.

In the 2-year-old trot, Go Burgh Go earned his owners a victory in their very first Championship event. Eric Felter steered the gelding in a pocket-sitting trip and pulled in the final turn to overcome Howlin Wolf, who broke in late stretch. The victory was a new career mark of 2:07.4. The gelding is trained by Theresa Bantle for owners Ed Fitzpatrick, Rich Moran, Robert Hankle and Vincent Tancredi.

“This is my first final in 30 years of racing,” said Fitzpatrick, who with his partners has followed this colt in County Fair and New York-bred Late Closers this summer. “He’s been a nice colt and we’ve seen a lot of New York with him.”

The ownership group purchased Go Burgh Go for a mere $500 at last year’s inaugural Summer’s End Equine Sale at Tioga Downs. He has now earned $7,417 in nine starts and has one more event before being turned out to mature for his sophomore season.

Go Burgh Go, an Air Mail Hanover gelding, was bred by Parks’ Breezy Knoll.

Air Louie and driver Stephane Bouchard cruised to a 2:01 victory in the 3-year-old County Fair Trot final.

Air Louie cut the mile in his 3-year-old trotting final to score in 2:01 for his week-old owners Scott West and trainer Tracy Brainard. Stephane Bouchard directed the son of Air Mail Hanover and held off the hard charging Paulie Ma Guire to earn the colt’s fourth victory of the year.

“We were confident going in,” said West. “We changed a couple things after we purchased him and added Lasix.”

The colt was bred by Chris and Dale Lawton.

On the pacing side, trainer Lonny Hale dominated by winning both the 2-year-old and 3-year-old finals with fillies who had to out-race the boys.

Racehorsephoto.com photos

Stephane Bouchard scored with sophomore pacing filly Newberry Winner in 1:58.1.

Newberry Winner, a sophomore daughter of Village Jove, backed up a mile-cutting victory in a New York-bred Late Closer at Tioga Downs the previous day to score with Bouchard in 1:58.1 in another pacesetting effort. She has now won half of her 20 starts this year for more than $31,000.

“She raced yesterday and she was very good today,” shared Bouchard in the winner’s circle. “It was an easy win for her.”

Newberry Winner is owned by Rocco Manzi and Paul Tandlmayer and was bred by Winbak Farm.

Hale and Manzi teamed up again in the 2-year-old pacing final with Art Majorette. Monticello staple Billy Parker, Jr. directed the filly to a 2:02.4 victory, the third of her career. She started several lengths off the starting gate, but a three-wide move at the three-quarters allowed her to charge by her competitors and finish 2-1/4 lengths in front.

The Art Major filly was bred by DI Farms and Robert Heibell.

Carrying purses of $7,500 each, the finals brought the County Fair season to a close. The connections of the winners will be honored on Sunday, October 14, in Sararoga Springs.