Press Release:
Batavia, NY --- Batavia Downs hosted its second New York Sire Stakes events of the season and for the second time a new track record was set in the process. In town were the 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters, vying for $128,940 in purse money, split up in four divisions.
The new record came in the second division, race four, when Dejarmbro, with Jeff Gregory at the lines, trotted to a 3-1/2 length victory in 1:58.4, easily lowering Donttellmywife’s (also with Gregory) 1:59.3 mark set in 2008.
Starting from post two Gregory sent Dejarmbro out of the gate but quickly realized that Jim Morrill, Jr., leaving from the rail behind the front running New Identity, wanted to cut the mile so he took back to sit in the pocket.
New Identity got down to the half in a speedy :57.3 but was unable to shake Dejarmbro who was right there in second. It was obvious it was going to be a match race as the two talented freshmen opened up daylight on the rest of the field.
Midway on the final turn Gregory decided it was time to go and pulled Dejarmbro to the outside. Down the lane it was all Dejarmbro, under a very confident Gregory, as they trotted to command and wrote their names in the Downs' record books.
A modest Jeff Gregory made the record breaking mile sound easy: “I just let him do his own thing. He’s a very nice 2-year-old,” said Gregory.
Dejarmbro, a colt by Credit Winner-Armbro Déjà Vu, is trained by Jessica Okusko for the Purple Haze Stables.
The final stakes race of the evening went to Typical Newyorker with Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky, winning by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:02.3.
Typical Newyorker, a Conway Hall-Striking Sybil colt, moved to the front just before the quarter pole and showed the way throughout for his fifth win in a row. The only serious challenge came around the last turn when Proud Accolade and Jeff Gregory made a mild bid but Typical NewYorker, benefiting from soft early fractions, was up to it and went on to the much the best score. Proud Accolade held the second spot while Surface Tension, who sat in the pocket throughout but made a miscue in the stretch, had to settle for third. The modest fractions were :30.1, 1:02.1 and 1:33.2.
Typical Newyorker is trained by part owner John Hallett. He is also owned by Michelle Oglesby and Roger Doire.
“I really didn’t want to cut the mile but we were going so slow I had to come back out or I was afraid I was going to lose him,” Morrill commented. “As you can see we were going a very slow half and if I would have stayed in I think we would have been in trouble. He’s a nice little horse, Johnny’s done a nice job with him. He always gives 150 percent and is a pleasure to drive.”
Wednesday night’s other NYSS contests, worth $31,935 and $32,535, respectively, were won by:
2- Petruchio (Plesac-Portia); owner: Richard Balog; trainer: Linda Toscano; driver: Morrill Jr.; 2:00.2.
9- Whitewater Rapids (Credit Winner-Rapid Rail); owner/driver/trainer Ray Schnittker; Also owned by Hero Stables and Charles Iannazzo; 2:02.1. Batavia Downs Casino is currently racing Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Post time is 6:40 p.m.
