New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) season began Tuesday, May 8 with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $171,900 Joe Goldstein Trot for three-year-old fillies.
A total of four divisions with seven-horse fields—at $42,975 each—comprised the event.
The opening event saw odds-on Plunge Blue Chip rebound from her last Yonkers' outing, losing the NYSS Final, by making short work of the other six lasses. From post-position three, the frosh track record-holder had nary an anxious moment, setting a tempo of :29.4, :59.4 and 1:29.1 before winning in 1:57.3 in her seasonal purse debut.
Tribute to Seven came first-up into second, beaten a couple of lengths. White Cheetah, as the 84-1 rank outsider, was third.
For Plunge Blue Chip, a daughter of Muscles Yankee co-owned (with Blue Chip Bloodstock and Tomas Andersson) and trained by driver Ake Svanstedt, she’s now 10-for-11 in her career, earnings in excess of $425,000. She paid $2.40 to win.
“She was really good and it was an easy race for her,” Svanstedt said.
The second division saw Svanstedt double up when Fury Road finished what she started, leading through fractions of :30.2, 1:01.3 and 1:30.4 before advancing to a 1:59.3 victory.
From, post four, her job was made much easier when the other leavers—Red Reign and stateside-debuting 2-5 favourite Alloveragain—both lost stride into the first turn. The former did get back in it and challenged until the three-quarters before backing away.
Fury Road whipped pocket-sitting Logetta Hanover by a length-and-a-half, with Lima Novelty and Perfect Summer K third and fourth, respectively.
For second choice Fury Road, a Muscle Mass miss owned by Knutsson Trotting and trained by Svanstedt, she now has four wins and four seconds in 10 career starts. She paid $7.70 to win.
The evening’s third statebred sojourn saw border-crossing people’s choice Jordan Blue Chip easily win her NYSS split and American debut.
Away third from post four, she went up and over early leader Somedew Somedont, who led through splits of :29.2 and 1:00.2, before the 1:29.3 three-quarters en route to a life-best 1:58.1 effort. Jordan Blue Chip widened to three-and-three-quarter lengths at the wire. Somedew Somedont finished second, with Ciao Dolce third.
For Jordan Blue Chip, a Chapter Seven filly owned by Dreamville Stable and trained by Paula Wellwood, it was her first win in a pair of seasonal starts. Driven by Scott Zeron, she paid $2.50 to win.
“She was great, especially for her first time over a half-[mile track],” Zeron said. “I didn’t even have to pull the plugs.”
Svanstedt had himself a hat trick in the final NYSS event with 11-10 fave Lucky Ava.
Lucky Ava, last seen here upsetting at 21-1 the $225,000 NYSS Final a season ago, left from the rail to a handy, down-the-road work night, setting splits of :29.2, :59.4 and 1:28.3 before winning in a lifetime-best 1:58. The final margin was a length and a half.
Dew to Win, at 46-1, snapped Mooshka Stride for second, with Caviart Cady rounding out the gimmick finishers.
For Lucky Ava, a season-bowing daughter of Lucky Chucky, co-owned by trainer Svanstedt, Little E LLC and Van Camp Trotting, it was her sixth win in 11 career starts. She paid $4.30 to win.