Rookie Fillies In Spotlight In NYSS
First-season fillies were on display once again Tuesday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $235,887 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for two-year-old fillies. Three divisions - at $78,629 each - comprised the event.
The first division saw Sweetnsinful (Jimmy Whittemore) take no prisoners, and no compassion. In play from post two, the lass led through fractions of :28.1, :58.3; 1:27.3 and 1:55.1. It was 2-5 favourite JK Molly (Tim Tetrick) two-moving and chasing, though beaten a length-and-a-quarter. Zoe Blue Chip (George Brennan) was a pocket third.
For second choice Sweetnsinful, a daughter of American Ideal co-owned by (trainer) Homer and Connie Hochstetler & James Michaels, she returned $7.20 for her second win in five seasonal starts.
The second event saw Tetrick and 2-5 choice Mind Over Matter through down intervals of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.1, only to be unable to close the sale. Second choice A La Notte Hanover (Brennan) edged from the pocket, but she wasn't the problem. That title belonged to Rain Cloud Hanover (Mark MacDonald). Given the passing lane by A La Notte, she did indeed pass both horses in front of her.
Rain Cloud Hanover, in her south-of-the-border debut, whipped A La Notte Hanover by a half-length 1:55.4. Mind Over Matter faded to third - beaten three-quarters of a length - with Gentlemens Delight (Yannick Gingras) fourth.
For Rain Cloud Hanover, an Art Major miss owned by Christopher Nicci and trained by David Taff, she returned $27.80 (third choice) and is 5-for-6 this season.
Tetrick, accorded the role of people's preference yet again in third division, this time made the chalk players giddy. He lasted on the lead with Suplemental Income ($4). From post six and after sub-stations of :29.1, :59.2, 1:28 and (life-best) 1:56, she fought off the inside advances of 18-1 Jaded Dream (Jason Bartlett). The margin was a neck at the wire. It Was Fascination (Brent Holland) nosed Instant Respect (Gingras) for third.
For Supplemental Income, a Bettors Delight miss trained by P.J. Fraley for owner Bamond Racing, she's won half of her six first-season tries while hitting the board each occasion.
Statebreds return Friday night, with the $282,975 NYSS Bruce Hamilton Pace for three-year-old fillies.
(Yonkers Raceway)