Another very impressive win last night.
Yonkers Raceway Thursday night played host to the statebreds, with the $289,775 New York Sire Stakes Jim Meagher Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Odds-on speed freak Hes Watching (Jim Morrill, Jr., $2.50) watched his manners in the final ($97,725) event - and, has been the case, his rivals watched him.
Unhurried and wide into the first turn from post position six, the 1-4 choice was looped by Sheppard Pace winner Forty Five Red (Yannick Gingras). Hes Watching then methodically marched to the lead, securing it right at the :28.3 opening quarter-mile. He found an identical :28.3 second quarter (:57.1 half), and what figured to be a match race did indeed take shape.
Hes Watching and Forty Five Red had the floor to themselves at the 1:25.3 three-quarters, with former taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. That would be a close as Forty Five Red would get, as Hes Watching widened as he wished. The final margin was 5-1/2 lengths in 1:54.2. Third - beaten 11 lengths - was Hardts Or Bettor (George Brennan).
Hes Watching, a world record-holding son of American Ideal co-owned by trainer Dave Menary, Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero, is a perfect 4-for-4 - all in the NYSS - this season. The $3,000 yearling purchase has banked $104,653 to date.
"Honestly, I couldn't have gone any slower," Morrill said. "We're going to find out more about him in the (Sept. 28 sire stakes) final."
