New York Sire Stakes continue to prove quite popular downstate. Obviously, it's either due to the charm of the venue, the money or both
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Yonkers Raceway hosts of pair of NYSS divisions in the next few racing nights, with the $280,752 Mike Cipriani Trot (three-year-old fillies) going Saturday night and the $278,200 Hugh Grant Pace (three-year-old colts/gelding) scheduled for Monday night.
Saturday night's sire stakes six-pack (Races 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 11) includes several ladies who already flaunt gaudy resumes.
Southwind Samurai (Pat Berry, Post 4) looms a short-priced number in the first ($47,542) Cipriani division, an event named for Yonkers' legendary track photographer.
"Samurai," a daughter of Conway Hall is two-for-three this season, highlighted by a win in Memorial Day's $234,900 final of the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs. Show Your Lindys (Frode Fladen, Post 2) and Radiant One (Jason Bartlett, Post 7) each won NYSS events at Buffalo.
Other statebred standouts include Secret Credit (Brian Mattison, Post 3) and Upside Blue Chip (Phil Fluet, Post 5) in the second ($46,642) division, Impressive Kemp (Pat Lachance, Post 7) in the third ($46,642) division, Tuesdays With Mom (Jeff Gregory, Post 5) in the fourth ($46,642) division, defending sire stakes champ Munis Blue Chip (Gregory, Post 6) in the fifth ($46,642) division and To Lindys Credit (Howard Parker, Post 4) in the final ($46,642) event.
The quintet of Grant groupings (Races 4,6,7,8 and 9) is led by last season's frosh phenom Hes Gorgeous (Bartlett, Post 2), who drew into the third ($56,440) event.
The son of Art Major, 10-for-15 lifetime and Yonkers' track-record holder (1:53.2) for his troop a season ago, returns here after a blowout NYSS win at Buffalo last Sunday. In his previous start, he was nailed on the money in the $294,965 Art Rooney Pace.
Other stars in the state's glamour division include Screenplay (Jimmy Whittemore, Post 6)--a perfect four-for-four this season--in the first ($55,440) division, Art Two D Two (George Brennan, Post 2) and Joey The Czar (Jordan Stratton, Post 4) in the fourth ($55,440) group along with the triumvirate of Art For Arts Sake (Ryan Anderson, Post 1), Capital Blue Chip (Stephane Bouchard, Post 2) and Hanks Kid (Matt Kakaley, Post 7) in the final ($55,400) event.
Yonkers' current live schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) remains in effect--at least for this week--with first post at 7:10 p.m. Please note that beginning next week, Thursday becomes the new Wednesday as for as live racing is concerned, meaning July 1 is the return of Thursday night racing (and evening simulcasting).
Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule. Thursday afternoon simulcasting ends at approximately 5:30 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway)