by Michael Chamberlain, Vernon Downs publicity

Vernon, NY — There were three New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies at Vernon Downs on Thursday night (Aug. 7) and Yannick Gingras came in to win two of them and drove the second-place finisher in the other. In all, Gingras posted four winners on the 14-race program to win top driver honors for the extended card.

Fotowon photo

Band Of Angels and Yannick Gingras were 1:52.2 winners in the first division.

Band Of Angels (Rock N Roll Heaven-Time N Again) won the $36,566 first division. She moved to the lead as the field entered the backstretch and held that edge until Sawyer (David Miller) made a nice move to take over the top spot entering the far turn.

However, Band Of Angels (Gingras) reclaimed the lead as the field moved into the stretch and moved away to a nice victory in 1:52.2. Band Of Angels has now won four consecutive New York Sire Stakes races at four different racetracks (Monticello, Yonkers, Saratoga, and Vernon), the last three with Gingras at the controls. Band Of Angels is owned by Bill Donovan and is trained by Ron Burke.

There was a 9-1 upset in the $35,866 second division, as My Little Delight (Bettor’s Delight-My Little Dragon) charged past Bettor N Better (Gingras) and Bettor Be Steppin (Miller) in the stretch to get the victory in 1:52.3. My Little Delight (Mark MacDonald) got her first win in five lifetime starts in this spot and paid $21.60 in the process. Bettor Be Steppin was very stubborn throughout the stretch on the lead, only succumbing in the final strides, getting passed by both My Little Delight and Bettor N Better. My Little Delight is owned by Adam Victor & Son Stable LLC and Noel Daley is the trainer.

Gingras returned to the winner’s circle in the $36,566 third division at the controls of Sassa Hanover (Rock N Roll Heaven-Sayo Hanover).

Sassa Hanover went immediately to the lead and never looked back, maintaining a strong edge throughout the race. She stretched her advantage to five lengths in the stretch before settling for a three length win in 1:52.2. Mosquito Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) closed well in the stretch and finished second.

Sassa Hanover matched the accomplishment of Band Of Angels, picking up four straight New York Sire Stakes wins at four different racetracks. Sassa Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Panhellenic Stable Corporation and Lawrence Karr. Ron Burke is the trainer.

Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Friday night with a 10-race program. First post time is 6:45 p.m.