Last season, Hey Goodlooking threw down the gauntlet as the state's best freshman pacing colt. This season, he hasn't lost a step
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Hay Goodlooking invaded Yonkers Raceway again Friday night, winning the fastest--and gutsiest--of the six divisions which comprised the $220,052 New York Sire Stakes Hugh Grant Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings.
Back for the first time since winning last September's $175,000 statebred final in a track-record (1:54) performance, the Art Major colt won his $36,442 division in a spiffy 1:54.1.
With trainer Gates Brunet doing the honours, Hay Goodlooking--sent postward as the 3-5 choice from post position No. 2--played leapfrog on the lead with Civil Yankee (Jeff Gregory) through a .27.4 opening quarter-mile. The favourite found a :56.3 intermission, then he found some company.
Diamond Stick Pin (Howard Okusko Jr.) stormed the castle, going full throttle after the leader before and after a 1:25.2 three-quarters.
The challenger stuffed a short head in front turning for home, but Hay Goodlooking wasn't about to toss in the towel. He was both resurgent and stubborn, winning by a neck.
"He's a big horse with a big gait, and it's not always the easiest thing getting him around the (half-mile tracks)," Brunet said. "His equipment has to be just right. I was hoping to get a breather once I made the lead, but I couldn't.
"He's eligible to the North America Cup, and we decided to wait until he raced and came back tonight before making a decision," Brunet said. "We really wouldn't be missing that much (in NYSS), and I think he's earned that chance."
For Hay Goodlooking, co-owned by Deborah Brunet, Samuel Dotro and Thoedore Gewertz, he paid $3.20 for his third win in four seasonal starts (9-for-13 career, earnings approaching $240,000). He led a $9.20 exacta and $22.60 triple.
Two races after Hay Goodlooking, Handsome Harry (Bartlett, $2.30) made a sire stakes splash in his statebred debut.
After four consecutive romps in Tioga overnights, the Dream Away colt blew away his NYSS rivals, winning a $37,142 event by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:54.4. Mark Ford trains for co-owners Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle.
Friday night's other Grant groupings, worth $37,142, $36,442, $36,442 and $36,442, respectively, were won by:
• Outa My Head (by Bettors Delght); co-owners (trainer) Paul Kelley Racing, Higgins, Donovan/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:55.2/$6.20;
• Spacehill (by Space Shuttle); co-owners Burke Racing,Collins,Hill,Weaver Bruscemi/trainer Ron Burke/driver Greg Grismore; 1:55.3/$2.40;
• My Last Laugh (by Sealed N Delivered); co-owners Mathias Meinzinger & Jerry Silva/trainer-driver Ray Schnittker; (life-best) 1:54.2/$29.40;
• Wheres Waldo, g (by Bettors Delight); owner Ken Jacobs/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Stephane Bouchard; (life-best) 1:54.2/$5.
NYSS events next week include Tuesday's $219,000 Mike Cipirani Trot (3YO fillies), Thursday's $220,224 Mount Vernon Pace (3YO fillies) and Friday's White Plains Trot (3YO colts/geldings), which is drawn this coming Monday.
Friday night's pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by Stonebridge Diablo (Bouchard, $18.40) in 1:57.3, and Pancleefandarpels (Jordan Stratton, $25.20) in 1:54.4.
Saturday night presents one of Yonkers' biggest stakes evenings of the season, featuring both the $421,850 Art Rooney and $293,970 Lismore Paces.
(Yonkers Raceway)