Saratoga Springs, NY — Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were featured on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 1) at Saratoga Casino Hotel as part of the New York Sire Stakes.

Splash Brother proved a gritty 1:51 winner in his New York Sire Stakes event on Tuesday at Saratoga. Melissa Simser-Iovino photo.

Splash Brother just missed the track record for 3-year-old geldings with a 1:51 victory in the $74,500 first division.

Tyler Buter aggressively moved the So Surreal gelding to the lead going to the opening quarter, bypassing fellow even money shot Major Betts (Jordan Stratton) before powering through the first half in a demanding :55. Save Me A Dance and Jason Bartlett powered up first-over heading to three-quarters, but was dismissed by a game Splash Brother, who dug in turning for home. The even money shot was approached briefly by the co-favored Major Betts in the stretch before turning that one away and missing Funknwaffles’ 1:50.4 divisional track record. Major Betts wound us as the runner-up, while Save Me A Dance earned the show spot.

Trainer Ray Schnittker co-owns Splash Brother, who paced to his fifth win in eight seasonal tries, with Steven Arnold, Tammy Flannery and Nolamaura Racing.

The $75,900 second division went the way of Uhtred, who had Scott Zeron piloting for trainer Carmen Auciello. Uhtred went off at odds of 6-1 and got a perfect trip from Zeron before pouncing in the stretch. Long shot Genius Man and Marcus Miller cut the mile and rebuffed the favored Groovy Joe (Matt Kakaley) around the final turn while Uhtred gobbled up ground on the pylon path. The son of Art Major surged late and got up to win by a nose in 1:51.4. Genius Man, dismissed at odds of 10-1, was a game second while the favored Groovy Joe had to settle for third.

Uhtred is owned by Earl Hill Jr. and Stephen Klunowski.

Live racing continues on Wednesday evening (Sept. 2), with New York Sire Stakes action featured once again as 3-year-old pacing fillies visit the Spa. First post time is set for 7:15 p.m.