Was eight really enough? Probably.
That was the number of Friday night frosh filly divisions, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $245,456 New York Sire Stakes Clyde Hirt Pace
.
The so-far-misnamed Drop The Ball (Jim Morrill Jr., four NYSS winners) made it three-for-three to begin her career, easily winning the $30,157 second division in 1:57.4.
In no hurry early--as is her custom--the 1-20 favourite was away third before taking over after the :29.4 opening quarter-mile From there, soft intervals of 1:00 and 1:29.2 led to a :28.2 kicker for a two-length win.
Ladystar (Cat Manzi) and One Night (Pat Lachance), second and third choices, finished second and third.
Drop The Ball, a homebred daughter of Western Terror owned by Bulletproof Enterprises and trained by Paul Reid, returned the legal-low $2.10. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple returning $14.40. About $120,000 of the $123,000-plus in the place pool found its way on to the nose of the winner.
Puny proposition JK Soundofmusic (Jason Bartlett) was an unpressured winner in the $30,757 fifth division, walking through fractions of :30, 1:00.4, 1:30 and 1:59. Alexachase (Brad Hanners) and Toy Delight (Stephane Bouchard) were the best of the rest.
"Soundofmusic," a daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Linda Toscano for 3 Brothers Stables, was another $2.10 win proposition. The exacta paid $4.10 (local season-low), with the triple returning $48.40. Superfecta wagering was cancelled.
"Linda told me she was a good one (now two-for-two), and I was happy with her effort," Bartlett said. "That first start over a small track is always a concern, but she handled it."
Bridge-jumpers needed some counseling--and a hug--in the $30,757 fourth division, however, as Dreamlands Roxy (Jeff Gregory) took it to the house.
The daughter of Art Major held off a protracted bid from 1-9 My Girls A Star (Morrill Jr.), then widened to win by 2-3/4 lengths in a 1:56.2...matching her previous win time.
My Girls A Star eventually tired and become rough in the lane, fading to third--her first defeat in four tries--behind Temptation Queen (Bouchard).
"Roxy," a co-owned by (trainer Joe Holloway) and Dreamland Farms, returned $29.80 for her second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $150, with the triple returning $245.50. The place prices--with $54,800 of the $56.800 wagered on My Girls A Star--were $107.50 and $121.50, respectively.
"Joe told me drive her any way I thought, but John (Campbell, who baby-raced her and drove her in her first purse try) said she's talented and drives like a stock car," Gregory said, "I beat a very good filly tonight."
Friday night's other NYSS events, each worth $30,757, were won by:
- Winbak Corazon (by Village Jove); co-owners (trainer/driver) Phil Fluet, Lori Fluet, Tom Vassiliou, 1:58.4/$3.40;
- Diana Blue Chip (by American Ideal); co-owner Scott Hay & William Sienkiewicz/trainer Ray Van Dreason/driver Morrilll Jr.; (first life-win) 1:59.2/$3.60;
- Miss Annie J (by Bettors Delight); owner Kenneth Jacobs/trainer Samuel Serianni/driver Morrill Jr.; 1:56.3/$8.20;
- City Delight (by Bettors Delight); co-owners Donovan and Sbrocco/trainer Paul Kelley/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:56.1/$2.60;
- See You At Peelers (by Bettors Delight); co-owners Christina Takter and John & Jim Fielding/trainer Jimmy Takter/driver Morrill Jr; 1:57.2/$2,10.
Friday night's pair of $42,500 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by Trottin Troy (Jim Pantaleano, $6.80 ) in 1:55.4, and Little Mermaid N (Pantaleano, $3.80) in 1:54.2.
(Yonkers Raceway)