>Hamburg, NY---Last year’s 2-year-old New York Sire Stakes champion Doctor Butch, a 3-year-old colt by Art Major, out of the Jenna’s Beach Boy mare Classical Yankee, won his $66,993 division of the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore pacers in 1:53.4 here at Buffalo Raceway Sunday afternoon (July 14).

It was the 10th lifetime win in 10 attempts for Doctor Butch, who is owned by Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Jim Morrill Jr. put Doctor Butch ($4.50) on the lead, and the Linda Toscano-trained pacer did all the rest, cutting all the fractions in the race, 28.2, 57.3, and 1:26.3. A 27.1 last quarter-mile put the winner three-quarters of a length in front of Ronny Bugatti (Brent Holland) at the finish line. Bet The Moon (Randy Waples) came in third.

“When the one horse broke, (Bettor Than You) it really set things up nice for me," said Morrill. “I was able to set nice fractions, and he came home real strong.”

In the first division, also worth $66,993, Winbak Farms homebred Swift As A Shadow (Bettor’s Delight-Flibbertigibbet) won in 1:53.4 to register his second Sire Stakes win of the season, also driven by Jim Morrill Jr., for trainer Linda Toscano.

Dismissed by the bettors at 5-1, Swift As A Shadow ($13.00) received a perfect pocket trip as eventual third-place finisher, and heavy 1-9 favorite, Captive Audience (Randy Waples) cut all the fractions in the race, 27.4, 56.4, and 1:25.4. A 27.4 last quarter-mile put Swift As A Shadow a half-length in front of Thirty Two Red (Ray Schnittker) at the wire.

“Really nice horse, and I got a really nice trip”, said Morrill. “He gave me 100 percent for the whole mile."

The four Excelsior race winners worth $12,700 were, Ideal Wizard (Randy Waples) in 1:55.2, Steuben Patriot (Brent Holland) in 1:58.1, UF Bettors Hanover (Cat Manzi) in 1:57.2, and Royce Blue Chip (Jim Morrill, Jr.) in 1:56.2.

Racing will resume on Wednesday July 17, with first post scheduled for 5:00 p.m. eastern time.