New York Sire Stakes action continued downstate Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $237,990 Hugh Grant Pace for 3-year-old colts and gelding in five, $47,598 consecutive divisions
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Roadside Delight (George Brennan, $6.40) turned in the fastest effort, convincingly winning the third grouping. The Bettors Delight colt - leaving from post position seven after an inside defection -rattled through intervals of :28.2, :57.1, 1:25.3 and 1:53.4. He defeated 3-10 choice Great Vintage (Dan Dube) by 1-3/4 lengths for his third win in five seasonal starts. Roadside Delight is owned David McDuffee and trained by Nifty Norman.
"That's the best thing about him - his gate speed," Brennan said. "He's given me that every time I've driven him. I expect him to be heard from an open stakes during the season."
Brennan eventually tripled his pleasure with Art Z ($9.10) in the final NYSS event, prevailing from the pocket in 1:55. He picked off pace-setting, 1-4 choice Mojo Terror (Stephane Bouchard) by a neck for a fourth win in five '11 tries. The Artiscape gelding is owned by Richard Lombardo and trained by Jordan Rubin.
"Unraced at two, first start on a half, first start in sire stakes...he showed me something," Brennan said. "He went by a very good horse."
Friday night's first Grant event was won by odds-on American Rage (Jordan Stratton, $2.90), who two-moved to paradise in 1:55. The American Ideal gelding whipped Western Victory (Jim Hardy) by 3-3/4 lengths, despite drifting through the lane.
"I've driven him in his last four starts (two NYSS wins), and he's done everything I've asked," Stratton said. American Rage is trained by Ed Hart for co-owners Randy Bendis, Michael Novosel Jr. and Reed Broadway.
The evening's other sire stakes events were won by Lucky Cadet (1:55) and Sir Ziggys Z Tam (1:55.3). .
(Yonkers Raceway)