New York Sire Stakes sauntered back down the Thruway Monday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $358,857 Mike Cipriani Trot for three-year-old fillies.
The event, in three, $119,619 divisions, honoured the memory of Yonkers' long-time, award-winning track photographer. Cipriani's son, Ralph, and his family were on hand to make the presentations.
First-up from inside draw was the MO in the first two divisions, as performed by Alphadoodle (Brian Sears, $4.60) and Lola De Vie (Jim Morrill, Jr., $2.40), respectively.
Alphadoodle held off the lass on her back, Lady Rivera (Morrill, Jr.) by a neck in 1:57.4. Barn Babe (John Cumming, Jr.), done no favours by an eight-hole was third as the tepid 13-10 (same as Alphadoodle) favourite.
For Alphadoodle, a daughter of Credit Winner co-owned by (trainer) Rick Zeron, Rojan Stables, James Walker and Hutt Racing Stable, it was her second win in five seasonal starts.
Lola De Vie dispensed with longshot leader See At Office (Trond Smedshammer) early in the lane, then went on to whip Bouncing Bax (Jason Bartlett) by a length-and-a-half in 1:58.3. Third went to Royal Malinda (Dan Daley).
For Lola De Vie, a Credit winner homebred miss owned by Joie De Vie Farm, it was her sixth win (fourth consecutive, including the $237.600 final of the Empire Breeders Classic) in eight seasonal efforts.
The evening's final sire stakes event saw half of the eight ladies - including 1-2 favourite Long Island Tea (Morrill, Jr.) - self-destruct like a Mission Impossible tape.
That left 14-1 Wygant Lady (Cat Manzi, $31.20) on a lonely lead from post position six, and she closed the sale. Wygant Lady defeated a loose-pocket Promising April (Smedshammer) by a length in a life best-matching 1:56.1. Louise Kemp (George Brennan) was third.
For fifth choice Wygant Lady – a Credit Winner lass co-owned by her trainer (Taylor Gower) and her breeder (Alan Stull) - she's now 6-for-12 this season.
(Yonkers Raceway)