New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Friday night (July 6), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $162,000 Clyde Hirt Pace for two-year-old fillies.
Three conveniently-concocted divisions, each worth $54,000, comprised the event.
The opening division saw a certified eight-hole beat down administered by St Somewhere (George Brennan, $4.70).
Wide early, as one would surmise from this impost, St Somewhere worked around longshot Sun Viser (catch-driver Dan Dube), then gave nothing else a shot (:27.2, :56.3, 1:25.2, maiden-breaking 1:54.4).
The final margin was four and three-quarter lengths, with JK American Beauty (Brian Sears) arriving late for second. Slight 6-5 choice Meghan Lynn (Jason Bartlett) bid, then flatted for third, with Sun Viser fourth.
For second choice St Somewhere, a daughter of American Ideal co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Phil Collura, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi, the win was her first in just two tries. The exacta paid $29.60, the triple returned $70 and the superfecta paid $328.50.
"I was really impressed with her, especially since it was her first time on a half-[mile track],” Brennan said.
The evening’s second grouping had favoured So Awesome (Tim Tetrick, $3.50) do her night’s work with few issues (:29.2, :59, 1:27.2, first purse-win 1:55.3).
From post position No. 4, So Awesome was chased around the four turns by pole-sitting Crazy Cute (Jim Morrill Jr.), whipping that rival by three and a half lengths. Who Can You Trust (Bartlett) was third, with Shes Da Boom (Jim Marohn Jr.) fourth.
For So Awesome, a So Surreal miss owned by William Hartt and trained by Scott DiDomenico, the win was also her first in a pair of seasonal/career tries. The exacta paid $10.40, the triple returned $110 and the superfecta paid $412.
“I like her a lot,” DiDomenico said. "She's really special."
The evening’s third and final get-together was by far the strangest.
Brooklyn Lilacs (Morrill Jr.), the 2-5 favourite, made the lead from post No. 6 after eschewing an early three-hole. She did so after a :28.4 opening quarter-mile. Hurrikane Norakane (Dube), the first leader from post No. 4, surrendered for the pocket as the odds-on choice found a :58.1 intermission.
Down the backside the second time, Brooklyn Lilacs appeared to get on one line as she bore out noticeably off the cones. That altered the paths of horses both behind and outside of her.
She did own the lead at the 1:27.3 three-quarters and crossed the wire first by a half-length in 1:56.4. However, the judges were quick to take a look. Upon review, Brooklyn Lilacs was placed last (seventh) for essentially impeding all her rivals.
That moved up Hurrikane Norakane ($12), Gias Surreal (Bartlett), Money Shot Hanover (Tetrick) and Eos N Rock (Marohn Jr.) to the four wagering gimmick positions.
For third choice Hurrikane Norakane, an Art Major miss trained by John McDermott for co-owners Jonathan Klee, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investment Group and George Vierno, the outing was her initial race for money. The exacta paid $175.50, the triple returned $3,440 and the superfecta paid $16,191 (base $2 payout).
Friday night’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was won a repeating Magic Forces (Brennan, $4.70) in 1:51.3.
The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Tuesday’s (July 24) $162,000 Frank Becerra Pace (another visit by two-year-old fillies, purse TBA).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)