by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Gates Brunet and Hay Goodlooking won the first division of New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers, with a track record performance of 1:52.4 on Friday night (August 29) at Tioga Downs.

Fred Brown Photography

Hay Goodlooking lowered the Tioga track record for a 2-year-old pacing colt to 1:52.4.

The son of Art Major, out of the Pacific Rocket mare Monique’s Legacy, is owned by Theodore Gewertz, Samuel Dotro, and Deborah Brunet. Gates Brunet also trains Hay Goodlooking who has won four of his five lifetime starts, with his only loss being at Batavia where he held on for second. The $14,000 yearling acquisition has paid back dividends to the partnership as he has already banked over $73,000 in 2008. Where’s Waldo and Dan Cappello, Jr. used a two hole trip to finish second, while heavily favored Spacehill and Jim Morrill, Jr. could do no better than third.

The second division went to Diamond Stick Pin and Howard Okusko, Jr. with a lifetime best equaling mile of 1:54.4. The son of Bettor’s Delight, out of the Falcon Seelster mare Silksndiamonds, is owned by Conrad Zurich, Edwin Gold, and The Purple Haze Stable. Diamond Stick Pin was a $16,000 yearling purchase, and with his second career win in six outings, both coming at Tioga Downs, he has increased his bankroll to more than $59,000 on the year. Finishing second was Giacometti (Howard Parker), while Mr Express (Jim Morrill, Jr.) was third.

Redneck Outlaw and Jim Morrill, Jr. used a front end effort to take down the third division of the NYSS in 1:55.2. The son of Totally Western, out of the Run The Table mare Ever Running, was a $16,500 yearling purchase by MGM Racing Stable, Daniel Altman, and Kevin Ciarpelli. It was the first lifetime victory in five starts for Redneck Outlaw, who has already chalked up over $38,000 in earnings. Longshot Prince Argental (Dan Cappello, Jr.) was second, with Kelly’s Noah (Kim Crawford) third.

Dan Cappello, Jr. and Very Upset Richie, did just that in the fourth and final division at odds of 34-1. The duo sat a two hole trip throughout the mile before wiggling out in the stretch to survive a photo finish in 1:54.2. The son of Art Major, out of the Temujin mare Lizz’s Shadow, was a homebred for owners Anatolia Racing Stables Inc. Roland Mallar trains Very Upset Richie, who scored his first lifetime victory and increased his earnings to more than $34,000 with the win. My Last Laugh and Ray Schnittker hung on for second, while Major Scoot and Jim Morrill, Jr. got up for third.

Tioga Downs continues live racing action from Nichols, New York on Saturday, August 30, with a post time of 6:50 p.m. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit www.tiogadowns.com or call 1-888-WIN-TIOGA.