New York Night of Champions on Friday (Sept. 10) at Yonkers Raceway began with four $200,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for the two-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.

In the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund filly trot, Joviality S (Brian Sears) left quickly from post eight and was able to work her way by Little Pink Lies (Ake Svanstedt) after a :27.3 opening quarter.

Joviality S was able to maintain command through middle-half panels of :56.4 and 1:26.2 and turned away a first-over try by Valentina Blu (Andrew McCarthy) past three-quarters on the last turn. Through the stretch, Joviality S dug in when called on by Sears, and she held off a re-rallying Valentina Blu to win by a diminishing three-quarters of a length in a stakes record 1:55.4. Little Pink Lies, Cash Infusion (Mark MacDonald) and Seven On The Rocks (John Stark Jr.) completed the top five finishers.

"She's a very talented filly, and I thought she might be able to overcome the tough spot with her gate speed," said Sears. "I haven't really left with her much this year, but she's got really good manners and gets around the turns great. I felt pretty good about it.

"Andy's filly was struggling in the turns a little bit, so I was just trying to get away from her as much as I could around the last turn. His filly raced really good, but mine held on."

A Chapter Seven filly, Joviality S is trained by Marcus Melander for owner Courant Inc. Bred by Courant's breeding operation, AM Bloodstock Inc., Joviality S is the first foal out of the Muscle Hill mare Pasithea Face S ($579,565, 1:50.4). Joviality S has a record of 5-1-0 from seven starts and pushed her earnings to $224,623. She paid $3.50 to win and led a $7.70 exacta and a $36.60 trifecta.

Molotov Cocktail, driven by Scott Zeron, led all the way in taking the Winbak Farm two-year-old colt and gelding trot. Starting from post two, Molotov Cocktail made his way to the lead before the :28.3 opening quarter, with Quincy Market (Corey Callahan), Justice (Svanstedt) and Cool Papa Bell (Jason Bartlett) following him. Molotov Cocktail would go on to click off a half of :58.2, and it was at that point that Svanstedt went first-over with Justice, and Cool Papa Bell latched on to the cover.

Quincy Market began to back-pedal before the 1:27.1 three-quarters, which allowed Justice to drop into the pocket, but he was also empty, leaving Cool Papa Bell to take up the chase against Molotov Cocktail. Cool Papa Bell's bid was futile, though, as Molotov Cocktail went on to win by a length and three-quarters in a stakes record 1:56.2. Cool Papa Bell, Secret Rule (Joe Bongiorno), Grand Spa (Sears) and Justice followed him under the wire.

"When I have a horse like him, I just kind of want to position up close. For me, it was always going to be the first two steps he took out of the gate, so I had him timed into it pretty well," stated Zeron. "Once I out-footed Quincy Market right there, I had my eye on where Ake was going to be. Once I hit the turn, I took advantage of it and pushed forward.

"Honestly, I don't think we've ever seen the bottom of him this year, so I was pretty comfortable knowing that he's going to finish strong, as long as I keep him going a good tempo and nobody could surprise me by having me out-footed. I kept the pace up front good. It was actually good for my horse to hear a few footsteps coming behind him. Obviously, when he got right up close to my helmet, you always have to worry, but once we straightened up in the lane, I was pretty comfortable where I was."

Linda Toscano trains Molotov Cocktail, a Chapter Seven colt. Richard Gutnick and Tom Pontone bred him and now share ownership of him with partner Gary Cocco. He's the first foal out of the Kadabra mare Moonlight Cocktail ($137,233, 1:53.2) and is now a four-time winner from six trips behind the gate. He has pocketed $174,168 and returned $10.20 to win after being sent off at 4-1. The exacta kicked back $38.60 and the trifecta went for $611.

"He was a remarkable racehorse, and he's a remarkable sire," said Toscano, who also trained Chapter Seven during his career. "He's a game-changer for the business and I'm so proud of him. (Molotov Cocktail's) mom was a cool horse, also. I trained his mother also and I was looking forward to training this colt. He's everything I hoped he would be.

"He's eligible to everything in Lexington and he's also eligible to the Kindergarten Series. I think the owners and I will have a pow-wow, we'll see how the colt comes out of it and we'll decide what's best for him."

Forrest Blu (Tyler Buter) was the pacesetter in the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund colt and gelding pace, showing the way through stations of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25.2.

After a first-over Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley) couldn't put any pressure on Forrest Blu and he turned for home on a clear lead, it looked like it might be over, but JD (MacDonald) angled out after sitting in the pocket and was able to get up late to win by a neck in 1:55.1. Forrest Blu had to settle for second and Pickup Man Hanover (Billy Dobson), who wound up third-over and then was forced wide on the last turn by a breaking Stretch The Line (Jordan Stratton), closed well for third. Hurrikane Chuck (Dan Dube) and Pleaseletmeknow were fourth and fifth, respectively.

"We were going really hot into the first turn. I just wanted to position him forwardly there and I was happy I could loop the inside ones," said MacDonald. "Last time, that Forrest Blu followed me, and he beat me late. I was real happy to get that trip.

"I just wanted to stay on the rail until I came out of the last turn - make sure he didn't hit a knee or anything. He seemed to be traveling good and he dug in late and won. He's a really nice colt. I think that last race (a third in the sire stakes at Yonkers on August 24) helped him kind of break him loose a little bit."

Trainer Ray Schnittker also co-owns the winning So Surreal colt with JD's breeder, George Zitone, and Melissa Beckwith. JD, who is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Park N Orchard (1:51, $202,261), made his third appearance in the winner's circle from seven tries and has now banked $137,729. He paid $32.40 after being sent off at 15-1 and was atop a $166.50 exacta and a $452.50 trifecta.

Rounding out the two-year-old finals was the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund filly pace. Gotthegreenlight (Dexter Dunn) rocketed to the front from post three, but she would yield to Just Divine (Yannick Gingras) after a :27.2 opening quarter. Dunn then looked like he might try and re-move to the top on the second turn, but Gingras picked up the tempo some and put him back in the pocket.

Joyride Hanover (Tim Tetrick) took up the chase first-over before the :57.3 half, giving cover to A Girl That Twirls (Dube), and Joyride Hanover came with a determined bid that got her on even terms with Just Divine at the 1:26 three-quarters. On the far turn, Just Divine accelerated and Joyride Hanover began to drop back, giving Gotthegreenlight and Dunn the path they needed to the outside. Once she had clear sailing, Gotthegreenlight surged by Just Divine and went on to win by about a length in a stakes record 1:54.1. Just Divine was next, followed by Hamptons Babe (Jason Bartlett), A Girl That Twirls and Joyride Hanover.

"I thought there would have probably been a little bit more speed early. We got out of the gate pretty good and got a two-hole after that. Pretty lucky to get out there," relayed Dunn. "I had a crack (at taking the lead), but Yannick went on again, so we got back in there and needed luck after that. If she didn't get out, it would have been a bit of a tragedy for the connections because she couldn't have probably done it any easier.

"She was plugs in at the finish. She's a lovely filly. She really eats up the track, she wants to win and she's a great competitor."

Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey and acquired for $40,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, Gotthegreenlight is a daughter of American Ideal trained by Richard "Nifty" Norman for owners Patricia Stable and Kovach Stables LLC. Gotthegreenlight, who is the fifth foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Bet On Luck (1:52.3, $531,617), has six victories and a second from seven effort, and she has now stashed away $208,433. She was the even-money second choice and paid $4.10 to win. The exacta was good for $8.60 and the trifecta returned $28.60.

Sophomore Fillies Defend NYSS Titles

The four $200,000 New York Sire Stakes finals for sophomores saw Iteration and Test Of Faith successfully defend their titles from a year ago in the filly trot and filly pace, and Sevenshadesofgrey and Ill Drink To That defeat the favourites in the colt and gelding trot and colt and gelding pace.

Iteration was the first filly to keep control of her New York Sire Stakes crown in the filly trot. She was well-rated on the lead by driver Brian Sears through fractions of :29, :59.2 and 1:28.1, then dug in gamely in the stretch to fend off a rally by pocket-sitter Moni For Lindy (Yannick Gingras), defeating that foe by a nostril in 1:57.1. Splash Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) was third, and she was followed by Illuminata (Mark MacDonald) and Titans Hope (Jason Bartlett).

"The last time I was on the front with her up at Vernon, she didn't race real well," said Sears. "I think she was in heat during that time. She probably isn't as sharp on the front-end, but on a half-mile track, it's usually the best place to be.

"I would have liked to see her pull away a little more than that, but it's been a long year. I think that just puts her over $400,000, so we have nothing to complain about."

A daughter of Chapter Seven and this year's Hambletonian Oaks runner-up, Iteration was the second New York Sire Stakes champion on the card for the team of Sears, trainer Marcus Melander, and owner Courant Inc., joining two-year-old filly trot winner Joviality S. Iteration, a full sister to Trotter of the Year Gimpanzee, was bred by Order By Stable and brought $250,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale. She has compiled a record of 10-3-2 from 20 starts, has now earned $744,492, and paid $5.40 to win as the 8-5 second choice. The exacta paid $15.40 and the trifecta kicked back $39.40.

Test Of Faith (David Miller) then became a two-time sire stakes champion in the Cameo Hills Farm filly pace. She moved out of the pocket going to the :27.1 opening quarter and took the top spot away from Summer Rae (Bartlett) passing that station. Test Of Faith kept the tempo pretty high from there, hitting the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.

It seemed like Test Of Faith was on her way to a very easy win after she opened up a gap on Summer Rae going to three-quarters, but Test Of Faith didn't get around the last turn the best, which allowed Summer Rae to close the gap and then take a shot to the outside. Test Of Faith put the hammer back down in the lane, though, and widened to win by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3. Summer Rae was second and Delightful Z Tam (Pat Lachance) got up for third. Tava (Matt Kakaley) checked in fourth and Heart Of Mine (Scott Zeron) finished fifth.

An Art Major filly bred by Fred Hertrich, Test Of Faith is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran. A $92,000 acquisition at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale, she has 16 wins and two seconds from 18 lifetime tries, and she has now pocketed $914,050. She returned $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favourite and was atop a $23.60 exacta and a $60 trifecta.

The complexion of the colt and gelding trot, sponsored by Crawford Farms, changed before the start when morning line favourite and track record holder Ahundreddollarbill was scratched sick.

"He wasn't comfortable after warming up and acted like he tied up," tweeted Ahundreddollarbill's trainer Tony Alagna. "We wanted his health and the betting public to be protected."

With Ahundreddollarbill out of the picture, Dewey Arnold (Bartlett) was sent off as the choice and he would post panels of :28.2, :58 and 1:26.3. Entering the last turn, Gingras moved to the outside from fourth with 44-1 shot Sevenshadesofgrey and he would pick up cover on the bend from pocket-sitter Ambassador Hanover (Svanstedt). Dewey Arnold dug in through the stretch and tried to hold on, but Sevenshadesofgrey had the momentum on the outside and got up for the surprise win by about a length in 1:56.2. Dewey Arnold had to settle for second and there was a dead-heat for third between Balenciaga (Tim Tetrick) and Dees Red Delicous (Matt Kakaley). Ambassador Hanover faded to fifth.

"I was hoping for a cheque, but the horse raced really good. I was kind of happy for the slow fractions. I figured it took the backfield out of the race. I wasn't thinking about winning the race. I was hoping to be third or fourth, maybe, at that point," said Gingras. "When we headed up the backstretch, I had good trot and it looked like the horses in front of me, they were chasing already. I had a handful of trot, so I pulled him and I got lucky Ake pulled. I got second-over around the turn and even before the top of the stretch, I really thought he was going to win.

"I love it. I started here at Yonkers when I first came, so it's always nice to be back. Usually sire stakes finals are always on Saturdays in New York, so I haven't been able to come for years. When I saw this year that it was on a Friday when the stakes schedule came out, I told a couple of my clients that I'd be able to follow it a little bit as long as it was possible. It worked out good that we had a decent night."

Ron Burke trains Sevenshadesofgrey, a Chapter Seven colt bred by Concord Stud Farm, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. A $100,000 buy at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale, he now has two career triumphs from 26 appearances and he has now banked $207,649. He paid $90.50 to win and the exacta kicked back $246. The trifecta with Dees Red Delicous in the third spot was worth $666 and the trifecta that included Balenciaga returned $590.

The colt and gelding pace, sponsored by Blue Chip Farms, wrapped up the sire stakes finals and Ill Drink To That gave David Miller his second victory, winning in 1:51.3 to tie the stakes record. After pole-sitter Southwind Petyr (Dexter Dunn) and post three starter Stop Staring (Mark MacDonald) made early breaks on each side of him, Ill Drink To That elected to dash to the top, and he would carve out stations of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:23.3. Town Gossip (Joe Bongiorno) tried to chase down Ill Drink To That from the pocket, but he couldn't get there, as Ill Drink To That held sway to tally by two lengths. Town Gossip, King James Express (Bartlett), Southwind Petyr and Mullinax (Gingras) were the remainder of the top five finishers.

"He was very good. My plans changed right when the gate folded there. I was thinking I was probably going to get away third, but when the two horses broke on either side of me, I went ahead and tried to put him on the front," Miller remarked. "If Joe would have kept going, I probably would have turned him loose. Then I got reasonable fractions and he was pretty strong.

"He's a very game horse and I like the horse. He felt strong up the backstretch and around the last turn. I was hoping he would hang on."

Ill Drink To That is an American Ideal colt bred by Winbak Farm and he is trained by Chris Ryder for owners Craig Henderson, Lawrence Minowitz, Robert Mondillo and Oompa's Farm Inc. A $75,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale graduate, he made his sixth appearance in the winner's circle and he has now stashed away $329,489. He returned $8.40 to win as a 3-1 shot and keyed an $8.40 exacta and a $22.20 trifecta.

When racing resumes on Monday night (Sept. 13) with a 12-race program at Yonkers, there will be a $7,549.19 carryover and a $20,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 sequence.

The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available here. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 per cent.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)