One odds-on choice sizzled and one odds-on choice fizzled Monday, July 30 during Yonkers Raceway’s $172,000 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The event once again honoured the memory one of the state’s true get-it-done gentlemen, whose contributions to the industry were way too numerous to mention here.
The Monday sizzling was done by Springsteen, who sat a loose second-over trip before powering away in the $85,250 first division.
Away fourth from post two, Springsteen saw revved up polester Lyons Steel set early fractions of :26.4 and :55.1. Topville Olympian then made his second move, prompted in and out of a 1:23.1 three quarters.
Meanwhile, Springsteen was meandering behind Topville Olympian, taking his time to tag him before going wide in the final turn. He did take over, opening a length in the final turn before widening to two-and-three-quarter lengths at the wire in 1:51.1.
Rootin Tootin was behind the winner and chased him home, with Topville Olympian, Twin B Tuffenuff and Lyons Steel coming away with the minors.
For Springsteen, a Hempt-winning son of Rock N Roll Heaven co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard, Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg and Kapildeo Singh, it was his third win in seven seasonal starts. Driven by David Miller, he paid $2.50 to win. The exacta paid $10.20, the triple returned $19.80 and the superfecta paid $69.
“He’s at his best in the back end of the race,” Miller said. “I really thought they’d go [fractions of] :27 and :57, so when [I] saw the first half, I figured we were in good shape.
“I’m just the passenger when he’s as good as he was tonight.”
Monday night’s second $86,750 and final division saw Art Rooney Pace winner and odds-on favourite Trump Nation finish last and Heavenly Sound winning at 6-1.
Sitting third early behind My Delight and Ghost Dance, Trump Nation moved to the lead between a :27.4 opening quarter-mile and :56.3 intermission.
Ghost Dance moved from third to go after the favourite. Pole-sitting Heavenly Sound tracked from second-over. Ghost Dance drew even at the 1:24.1 three-quarters, sticking his nose out entering the lane.
Meanwhile, that duel just empowered Heavenly Sound, who whipped a third-over Ostro Hanover by a length in 1:52.4. My Delight crossed the line third, but was set down to fifth for lane interference. That lifted Stendahl Hanover and Rockapelo to third and fourth, respectively.
For third choice Heavenly Sound, a Rock N Roll Heaven colt owned by M&M Harness Racing and trained by Bruce Saunders, it was his fifth win in 15 tries this season. Driven by Jim Marohn Jr., he paid $14.80 to win. The exacta paid $92, the triple returned $970 and the superfecta paid $5,380.
“He negotiated the turns better here than his last start (Saratoga),” Saunders said. “We made a few equipment changes and the trip certainly didn’t hurt.”
Bruce Hamilton’s brothers, Scott (with daughter Faith) and Keith, joined in the winner’s circle presentations.
New York Sire Stakes continue here Tuesday, Aug. 7 with the Mike Cipriani Trot (three-year-old fillies).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)