On a night filled with upsets, overwhelming favorites He’s Watching, Bouncing Bax and Fool Me Once bucked the trend Saturday night on the New York Sire Stakes “Night of Champions” at Yonkers Raceway.
He’s Watching (1-9), driven by Jim Morrill Jr., Bouncing Bax (1-5), driven by Jason Bartlett and Fool Me Once (1-5), driven by Brian Sears, all made every call a winning one to score victories in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace, 3-year-old filly trot and 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, respectively.
The NYSS Night of Champions is comprised of eight races for 2- and 3-year-old male and female pacers and trotters, each with a purse of $225,000.
Hes Watching, now a perfect 8-for-8 lifetime, set a track record of 1:52 2/5 for his age and gait by 6 ¼ lengths over Big Boy Dreams. Major Trick was third.
“He had more tonight because I just let him cruise [to three-quarters] in 1:24 4/5 and if I had let him roll down there faster he would have went more. He’s so powerful and so fast, just a pleasure to drive,” Morrill Jr. said.
Bouncing Bax crossed the wire in 1:56 2/5, four lengths in front of Royal Malinda. Alphadoodle finished third.
Fool Me Once tripped the tele-timer in 1:51 3/5 by 8 ¹/₂ lengths over Bettor Than You. Framed Art was third.
Flyhawk El Dorado (4-1) claimed a neck victory over Credit Fashion in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot.
Market Rally (4-1) scored a neck victory over Maud Blue Chip in the 2-year-old filly trot.
In the 2-year-old filly pace, Bettor Business (12-1) held off Sweetnsinful by three-quarters of a length.
Crazy About Pat (3-1) won a tight one over Tirade Hanover by half a length in the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot.
Social Scene (4-1) took the 3-year-old filly pace by 6 over Cheyenne Miriam.