The New York Sire Stakes returned downstate Thursday night (June 21), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $172,499 Art Watson Pace for three-year-old fillies.

Three divisions — worth $56,833, $57,833 and $57,833, respectively — comprised the event.

The opening event saw favoured Newsday (Jim Marohn Jr., $4.50) do her damage from off the pace in 1:55.

Unhurried from post position 5, she advanced from third-over behind Betterthangraduate (Matt Kakaley) and Painted Lady (Eric Goodell). The outer tier inhaled early leader Tell Me a Joke after that one’s road work of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.4. Newsday closed widest and fastest, measuring off Painted Lady by a neck. Third went to Kimberlee (Jason Bartlett) in a good effort, with Betterthangraduate and Better Than Happy (Jordan Stratton) rounding out the payees. Tell Me a Joke faded to sixth.

For Newsday, a daughter of Art Major co-owned by (trainer) Richie Silverman, Michael Gluckman, Mary Arnold and Edward McEnery, it was her second win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.80, the triple retuned $135 and the superfecta paid $523.

Thursday’s second NYSS division had another wagering choice, Pueblo Blue Chip (George Brennan, $5.20), outgame Ms Cheesman (Jimmy Whittemore) in 1:54, matching her life-best effort.

Away a loose third from post 6, Pueblo Blue Chip watched as Hurrikane Shorty (Marohn) led through intervals of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.2. About the time Pueblo Blue Chip was approaching the leader, Ms Cheesman bulled her way out of the pocket, forcing the eventual winner three-wide. Both lasses eventually went by Hurrikane Shorty, with Pueblo Blue Chip defeating Ms Cheesman by half a length. Hurrikane Shorty saved the bottom of the ticket, while Silk Reed (Morrill) and Azreal As it Gets (Brian Sears) came away with the minors.

For Pueblo Blue Chip, an American Ideal miss trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, Michael Guerrero and Menary Racing, it was her second NYSS win in three 2018 tries. The exacta paid $16.80, the triple retuned $63.50 and the superfecta paid $473.50.

The evening final’s state-bred grouping yielded another formful result, as odds-on Wisdom Tree (Scott Zeron, $3.40) went down the road (:27.2, :56.2, 1:24.1) en route to the night's fastest clocking of 1:52.1.

From post 5, Wisdom Tree gave nothing else a chance, opening down the backside and giving last season’s frosh divisional champ Alexis Faith (Morrill) too much work to do. Wisdom Tree had three lengths off the final turn, then defeated a two-move Alexis Faith by 1-1/4 lengths. Presto Blue Chip (Stratton), Apothic (Brennan) and Believe in Me (Sears) picked off the minor cheques.

For Wisdom Tree, a Betterthancheddar lass trained by Ed Hart for co-owners Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher, it was her sixth win in eight seasonal efforts. The exacta paid $8.30, the triple retuned $47.40 and the superfecta paid $400.50.

The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Tuesday’s (June 26) $158,000 Jim Meagher Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.

(Yonkers Raceway)