Brian Sears sweeps Yonkers Trot and Messenger Stakes

YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) Hall of Fame driver Brian Sears swept the Yonkers Trot and Messenger Stakes on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Sears won by a scant nose in each of Yonkers' signature $500,000 stakes for 3-year-old trotters and pacers, guiding the favored DownbytheSeaside in the Messenger, and Top Flight Angel in the Yonkers Trot in the following race. Both races are the second jewels in the Triple Crown for pacers and trotters.

The 49-year-old Sears was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame on July 2. He has won nearly 10,000 races and $176 million in career purses.

In the 62nd Messenger for pacers, Sears steered Downbytheseaside to a nose triumph over Art Scene, driven by Jordan Stratton, stopping the clock in 1:52.1.

In the Yonkers Trot, Top Flight Angel, a 7-1 shot in the wagering, edged Yes Mickey, driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt. The son of Yonkers Trot champion Archangel finished in 1:56:3.