It was as advertised Monday night, with Yonkers Raceway offering the $338,304 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace.
Standout three-year-old fillies Handsoffsmycookie (Tim Tetrick) and Romantic Moment stood out, each finding minimal resistance in their respective $84,951 divisions.
Handsoffmycookie, right up there with death and taxes, made it 6-for-6 lifetime locally. Leaving from Post 4, the 1-20 proposition made the lead around pole-sitting New York Kitty (George Brennan) just after a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. From there, intervals of 56.3; 1:24.4 and 1:53 had her three lengths to the good at the wire. New York Kitty saved second over a rallying Ryder Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett).
For Handsoffmycookie, a daughter of Art Major owned by JFE Enterprises and trained by Scott DiDomenico, she returned the lawful-minimum $2.10 for her third win in five seasonal starts (12-for-17 lifetime with earnings over $780,000).
Romantic Moment (Yannick Gingras, $2.30) went down the road (:28, :56.4, 1:25.2, 1:53.3) in the final grouping, holding Eighthunrdolarbill (Brennan) at hoof's length by three-quarters of a length. Ramalama (Eric Goodell) was third
For Romantic Moment, an American Ideal lass owned by Brittany Farms and trained by Jimmy Takter, she's now 4-for-6 this season with earnings in excess of $290,000.
Monday's other divisions, worth $84,591 and $83,451, respectively, went to:
• Zellweger Bluechip (by American Ideal); co-owners West Wins Stb, Good Times Stbs, Joe LaCova and John Campagnuolo / trainer Casie Coleman / driver George Brennan; 1:54.1 / $8.40
• Hearts N Flowers (by Artiscape); owner Bay Pond Racing Stable / trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman / driver Jeff Gregory; (1:55.3 / $37.80.
Monday's events honoured the memory of the former Executive Secretary of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York. He was an instrumental figure in the tremendous success of the state-bred program. Hamilton's family was on hand to make the winner's circle presentations.
(Yonkers Raceway)