Woolco won for the first time in her career, while Kayleigh S improved to three-for-three in hers, in a pair of New York Sire Stakes divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night (July 28) at Yonkers Raceway.

The first group went for a purse of $77,200, and it would be Defiant Lady (Jason Bartlett) who went to the front and carved out fractions of :29.2, 1:00.4, and 1:30.2 with Woolco (Tyler Buter) in the pocket and Gigi Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) sitting third. Svanstedt sent Gigi Hanover on a first-over attack heading to three-quarters, but she was rebuffed by Defiant Lady, who continued to show the way around the final bend and into the stretch.

In the lane Defiant Lady dug in gamely when called on by Bartlett, but Woolco squeezed through a gap on her inside and was able to get by Defiant Lady nearing the wire to tally by a head in 1:59.3. Gigi Hanover wound up third and favoured Ruth Honig (Brian Sears) finished fourth.

A daughter of Chapter Seven-Upside Hanover, Woolco is a homebred for trainer Bob Krivelin and his Hero Stables. Woolco, who was third in the sire stakes leg at Batavia Downs last time out, pushed her earnings to $42,824, and she paid $26.80 to win as a 12-1 offering. The exacta kicked back $158.50 and the trifecta returned $398.

Kayleigh S is a full sister to MGM Yonkers Trot champion Joviality S, and just like her elder sibling did in winning the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, Kayleigh S overcame an outside draw to take her $78,700 sire stakes test in 2:01.1.

Driver Brian Sears sent Kayleigh S out from post eight, and early leader Mari (George Brennan) miscued on the first turn, leaving Kayleigh S in command. She would back down the tempo, clicking off panels of :31, 1:02, and 1:32, but couldn't shake pocket-sitter All The Rage (Svanstedt), who angled out late on the final bend.

All The Rage loomed boldly at Kayleigh S, who was under urging, in the lane, but she raced greenly and drifted out while trying to rally, and that allowed Kayleigh S to hold sway by half a length. Midwind Success (Jordan Stratton) was up for third.

Marcus Melander trains Kayleigh S, who is out of the Muscle Hill mare Pasithea Face S, for owner Courant Inc. The AM Bloodstock-bred Kayleigh S has put away $95,600 to go with her unblemished record so far. She returned $4.90 to win as the 7-5 second choice and was atop a $23.20 exacta and a $177 trifecta.

Rookie trotting fillies also competed in three $15,000 splits of the New York Excelsior "A" Series on the program, with victories going to:

• Usosweet Blue Chip (by Devious Man and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock) in 2:00.3 for driver Marcus Miller, co-owner/trainer Erv Miller, and co-owner Bowie Racing LLC.;
• Jigger Of Gin (by Conway Hall and bred by owner Michael Woodward) in 2:04 for trainer-driver Phil Fluet;
• Rhea Titan (by E L Titan and bred by Michael Polansky) in 2:01.2 for driver Jeff Gregory, owner/trainer Margaret Spagnola, and co-owner Our Blue Streaks Stable. 

Additionally, one $6,400 New York Excelsior "B" Series dash for two-year-old trotting fillies went behind the gate as a non-wagering race, and it was won by Eee Z Wow (by Crazy Wow and bred by Robert Key) in 2:04.1 for driver Tyler Buter, trainer Rob Harmon, and owners Harmon Racing Stable LLC., Lightning 5 Racing Stable, and B Kleinberg Racing LLC.

Stakes action returns to Yonkers on Tuesday, August 2 with a pair of $75,900 New York Sire Stakes clashes for two-year-old filly pacers.

In NAADA Trotting Series action, amateur driver Scott Keppler enjoyed his best night in the sulky when he won both $10,000 divisions tonight at Yonkers Raceway. He won the first contest with Judge Ken for trainer Jose Godinez in 1:58.2 and then copped the second with Fun Time Charlie for trainer Steve Moore in 2:00.2.  

Although each winner had a different trainer listed, Keppler owned both trotters.

In the first contest, Keppler sent Judge Ken to the lead and they raced unchallenged throughout. They passed the first quarter in :29.1 and they showed the way by the half in :59.4. When he headed up the backside for the three-quarters, Tony Verruso had Winneress close, but  Keppler asked his trotter for more turning for home and Judge Ken responded. They opened up a two length lead as he led his competition to the wire. Winneress was second and Jekyll N Hyde finished third for Nicole Dicostanzo. 

Since the front-end worked out well for Keppler in the first event, he tried the same tactics in the second, leading him to the winners circle once again. This time Keppler guided Fun Time Charlie to an easy wire to wire 2:00.2 victory.

Once again Tony Verruso took up the chase, this time with Call Me Thefireman, but they could do no better than follow the leader to the finish line. At the wire, Fun Time Charlie was a one-and-a-half length winner over Verruso's trotter. The Big Muscle finished third for Tony Ciuffetelli.

Yonkers is currently racing on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 6:55 p.m.

(Yonkers Raceway / NAADA)