The Empire's glamour division came out to play Monday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $236,092 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace
.
With this event, the Raceway again honoured the memory of the long-time Executive Secretary of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York, and one of the most well-liked movers and shakers in the industry.
Four divisions went postward, with Great Vintage (Dan Dube, $12.80) throwing down the fastest gauntlet. The son of American Ideal summoned some of his $189,000 form of a season ago, drilling the $$59,298 third division in a snappy 1:52.3. Leaving from post position three, he made the lead past a :27.1 opening quarter-mile, then found a :56.1 intermission and 1:24.3 three-quarters. Great Vintage defeated 9-10 choice Art Z (George Brennan) by 1-1/4 lengths, with JK Camelot (Tim Tetrick) third.
The winner, off the seasonal schneid (1-for-5), is trained by Jimmy Takter for his wife, Christina, along with John Fielding, Goran Anderberg and Falkbolagen AB.
"We had high hopes for him this season," Marcus Johansson, accepting on behalf of a grateful nation - and trainer Jimmy Takter - said. "He's had some issues along the way so far, but we feel he's raced better in his last few starts, especially in sire stakes. Tonight was as good as he's been in a long time."
Last season's sire stakes frosh divisional champ, Townslight Hanover (Stephane Bouchard, $10.60), was a schnozz to the good in the $59,298 final Hamilton grouping.
Leaving from post six, he bided his time as 9-10 fave while Mojo Terror (Brian Sears) was hard-used and wide before gaining the lead. Townslight Hanover, working from second-over behind a parked-out longshot, moved three-deep down the backside. He was a nose to the good turning for home, and a nose to the good at the (1:54) wire. Sir Jonathan Z Tam (Pat Lachance) skimmed the cones to just miss at 22-1, with Mojo Terror fading to third.
Townslight Hanover, a Bettors Delight gelding, is owned by Ken Tucci and trained by Aaron Lambert. He is now 2-for-9 this season.
"That's his trip, having some numbers to close into," Bouchard said. "He just tries every start. It's the best thing I can say about him."
Monday’s other NYSS events, worth $59,198 and $59,298, respectively,. were won by Flipper J (Tim Tetrick, $2.30) in 1:53 and Sea Venture Brian Sears, $14.40) in 1:54.4.
(Yonkers Raceway)