Cowgirl Hanover improved to three-for-three in her career and came up just two-fifths of a second short of the track record for a two-year-old pacing filly when she won the second of two $102,055 New York Sire Stakes divisions on Thursday, July 11 at MGM Yonkers Raceway in 1:53.3. Earlier on the program, Send It Down Slim prevailed in 1:56.2.
Shes A Streaker (Yannick Gingras) worked most of a :27.2 opening quarter to get by Bronx Mixer (Mark MacDonald) to take command, and then once she had the top, Shes A Streaker backed down the pace to the half to :57.2. Cowgirl Hanover (Scott Zeron) was watching from third and Zeron brought her to the outside before Shes A Streaker got to three-quarters in 1:25.3.
On the final bend, Cowgirl Hanover moved up to get side-by-side with Shes A Streaker and then forged her way by early in the stretch drive. From there, Cowgirl Hanover opened up to the wire, defeating Shes A Streaker by two lengths despite suffering broken equipment. Bronx Mixer ended up third.
A Huntsville filly bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Cowgirl Hanover is trained by Jared Bako for owner Ny Seb Inc. An $85,000 buy at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, Cowgirl Hanover has earned $159,110 to go with her pair victories.
She paid $3.90 to win as the 4-5 second choice and keyed a $7.20 exacta and a $12.60 trifecta.
Send It Down Slim (MacDonald) made it look easy back in the opening flight as she led the way through fractions of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:28.2 on her way to a 3-1/4-length win over pocket-sitter Chanceoflightning (Jordan Stratton). Lonely Ghost (Jason Bartlett) finished in the third spot.
Another daughter of Huntsville, Send It Down Slim is trained by Ray Schnittker for owner Grozcona Racing Stable LLC. She has a summary of 2-0-1 from three appearances and has banked $103,091.
Send It Down Slim returned $3.70 to win as the favourite. The exacta was worth $8.10 and the trifecta kicked back $22.80.
There were also four $27,397 New York Excelsior "A" Series events for the rookie pacing fillies, with victories going to:
- Love Trouble (sired by American Ideal and bred by Winbak Farm, paid $7.30 to win) in 1:58 for driver Jordan Stratton, trainer Tom Fanning and owner Fanning Racing LLC;
- Fashion Terror (sired by Huntsville and bred by owner All Star Racing Inc., paid $3.40 to win) in 1:58.3 for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Mark Ford;
- Courtly Maiden (sired by Courtly Choice and bred by Winbak Farm, paid $6.20 to win) in 1:58.2 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer/co-owner Blake MacIntosh and co-owners Hutt Racing Stable and Gilles Landry;
- On Cloud Wine (sired by Huntsville and bred by Steve Jones and Jonathan Kurnit, paid $2.70 to win) in 1:56.3 for driver Mark MacDonald, trainer/co-owner Ray Schnittker and co-owners Steven Arnold and Nolamaura Racing LLC.
New York Sire Stakes action will continue on Thursdays at Yonkers Raceway through the month, as the three-year-old colt and gelding trotters will compete next week (July 18) and then two-year-old colt and gelding trotters will be in town on the 25th.
Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)