Yonkers Raceway's Saturday night fare was highlighted by the $280,752 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cipriani Trot for 3-year-old fillies
. A happy half-dozen groups each had their own playtime.
Odds-on favourite Southwind Samurai (Pat Berry, $3) was the easiest of winners in the first ($47,542) Cipriani division. Sitting pocketed to Comical Dream (Jeff Gregory), Southwind Samurai blew by right before the leader blew up.
Southwind Samurai went on to defeat 31-1 shot Somersault (Phil Fluet) by a measured length in 1:59.1, with Radiant One (Jason Bartlett) third. The exacta paid $60.50, with the triple returning $187.
For "Samurai," a daughter of Conway Hall trained by Bjorn Noren for owner Scuderia Giuliano, she's now 3-for-4 this season with earnings in excess of $150,000.
"She's bigger and stronger than she was last season, so they took the trotting hobbles off," Berry said. "I really think she's better on a big track (Exhibit A would be Memorial Day's $234,900 final of the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon), but I figured she was the best in here."
Speaking of racing au natural, the second ($46,642) division was a walk-around mile for Secret Credit (Brian Mattison, $2.60).
The daughter of Credit Winner, co-owned by (trainer) Paul Kelley and William Weaver, waltzed around the oval in 2:01.1. Secret Credit defeated Upside Blue Chip (Fluet) by a couple of lengths, with Shes So Chic (Gregory) third. Secret Credit now has a pair of wins and pair of seconds in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $5, with the triple returning $19.80.
"She was very immature as a 2-year-old, so we left the straps on," Mattison said. "That, and she has a bit of breathing problem.
Now, she's much easier to deal with The best thing about her is the way she can leave the gate and she showed it tonight."
Trainer Frank Antonacci and driver Howard Parker combined to win the final two NYSS events, taking the fifth ($46,462) event with a first-up Nothing But Moni ($22) in a maiden-breaking 1:59.1, and To Lindys Credit ($3.30) in the final ($46,642) event, timed in 2:00.1
Nothing But Moni, whose dad (Credit Winner) and mom (Moni Maker) give her license to be a good one, held off last season's frosh divisional champ Munis Blue Chip (Gregory) by a half-length. She's owned by Moni Maker Stable.
To Lindys Credit, owned by Lindy Racing Stable and unraced at 2, is now 4-for-6 this season. Not bad for a mother-to-be (she's in foal to Cantab Hall). Here, she defeated Ilovemymommy (Brian Allen) by a length-and-a-half.
Saturday night's other NYSS events, each worth $46,642, were won by:
- Frosty Flirt (by Plesac); owner/trainer Tracy Brainard; driver Cat Manzi; 2:01.2;
- My Winning Way K (by Conway Hall); owner Bob Key; trainer Ray Van Dreason; driver Jordan Stratton; 2:02
Saturday night's $42,500 Open Handicap Pace was won by pole-assignee Lindys Bandit (Brent Holland, $12) in 1:52.4. New York Sire Stakes continue Monday night, with the the $278,200 Hugh Grant Pace (3-year-old colts/gelding) in five divisions.
Yonkers' current live harness racing schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday--returning next week--Friday and Saturday) remains in effect, with first post at 7:10 PM.
(Yonkers)