Statebreds made their final downstate visit for a while Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $215,464 New York Sire Stakes Armamd Palatucci Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings
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The marquee matchup of the foursome came in the final ($54,116) event, which was to feature a trio of last week's winners--Big Sky Domino, Russell Hill and Judge Joe--opposing one another.
However, "Joe" came up ill, leaving a duel after dark over a "good" surface between "Domino" (Cat Manzi) and "Russell" (John Campbell).
Russell Hill, sent off as the 1-4 favourite, went sent away in a hurry from post position No. 4. He rebuffed an early challenge from South Jersey Flash (Steve Reisenweaver) before a :29.4 opening quarter-mile.
After a 60-second intermission, Big Sky Domino moved from third to engage the people's preference.
"Russell" repelled that rival through a 1:30.2 three-quarters, widening to a 2 1/4-length lead into the lane. He defeated Big Sky Domino by that same margin in 1:59.1. South Jersey Flash was third, beaten 6 1/2 lengths.
For Russell Hill, a Conway Hall colt trained by Jimmy Takter for Canadian co-owners Al Libfeld, Mavrin Katz and Sam Goldband (the latter two as breeders), he returned $2.50 for his for his fifth victory--fourth consecutive--in seven seasonal starts. It was everyone-to-the-windows exotics of a $3.70 exacta and $5 triple (three wagering choices in order).
"Russell" now has '09 earnings approaching $180,000.
"He's won over a half and a mile (Meadowlands) with me, and also on the seven-eighths (at Vernon)," Campbell said. "They didn't go that much tonight, but he's a professional horse...certainly worth the trip over.
"It's a jump from sire stakes to open stakes, but there's no reason to think he doesn't have the talent," Campbell said, noting that Judge Joe was a winner at Lexington a season ago.
Friday's other NYSS events, worth $54,116, $53,116 and $54,116, respectively, were won by:
• Monaghan Man,g (by Malabar Man); co-owners Alan & Gus Johnston/trainer Ray Van Dreason/driver Jeff Gregory; 2:00.4/$5.20;
• Calchips Brute (by Credit Winner); owner Diane Giuliano/trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer; (life-best) 2:00.2/$7.40;
• America (by Conway Hall); co-owners David McDuffe & David Scharf/trainer Richard Norman; (equal life-best) 2:00.1/$3.80.
Friday night's pair of $48,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by a returning Chick N Tell (Stephane Bouchard, $4.20) in 1:56.1, and a repeating Twin B Tiara (Jim Pantaleano, $15.80) in a life-best 1:53.
(Yonkers Raceway)