Yonkers Raceway hosted the $153,900 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for two-year-old fillies on Friday night (August 2).
A trio of $51,300 races comprised the event.
The first division saw Racine Bell (Jason Bartlett, $5.80), as the lone leaver, make her five rivals pay (:29, :59.2, 1:28.1, career-best 1:56.1).
From post position No. 5, Racine Bell opened three lengths in and out of the final turn before winning by that same margin.
Rapunzel Blue Chip (George Brennan) was a loose-pocket second, with 11-10 favourite Dragon Roll (Jordan Stratton) a non-threatening, first-up third. Galleria Gal (Tyler Buter) was fourth.
For second choice Racine Bell, a daughter of So Surreal co-owned by Chris & Dale Lawton and trained by Dave Dewhurst, the win was her third in six seasonal/career starts. The exacta paid $51.50, the triple returned $151.50 and the superfecta paid $378.
The evening’s second Sire Stakes rendition saw another down-the-road dominatrix in Merga Hanover (Brennan, $4.30).
From post No. 3, the public choice held So Rude (Joe Bongiorno) at bay by a head after spongy intervals of :29.1, :59.1, 1:27.4 and 1:56.
Movie Town (Buter) was a three-hole third, with Wannashakeyourtree (Bartlett) fourth.
For Merga Hanover, an American Ideal ma’am co-owned by Thomas & Scott Dillon, Joe Sbrocco and W J Donovan, the win was her third in four seasonal/career tries. The exacta (two wagering favourites) paid $8.20, the triple paid $31 and the superfecta paid $82.
Form didn’t hold in the third and final statebred division as 1-2 choice Turnthefrownaround (Bartlett) jumped it off by the half while sitting third.
Of those that remained pacing as required, a maiden-no-longer Tipperary Hill (Buter, $59) out-gamed Cash Roll (Stratton) by a head in 1:56.3.
The latter had taken over from first leader Chuppah On (Harry Landy), putting up subsections of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:27.2.
Meanwhile, pole-sitting Tipperary Hill improved a position when the favourite jumped, then engaged the leader through the final turn before prevailing.
Roll With Angel (Dan Dube) and Chuppah On rounded out the gimmick finishers.
For sixth choice Tipperary Hill, an Art Major miss co-owned by David Smith, James De Armond, James & Daniel Giannuzzi and trained by Jessica Okusko, the win was a first board finish in three ‘19/life starts. The exacta paid $144.50, the triple paid $584 and the superfecta paid $2,859.
As an aside and according to our esteemed photographer, Daniel Giannuzzi was more than mildly enthused with Tipperary Hill’s longshot win. He was hoping for the same with Sweet Chapter in Saturday’s (August 3) Hambletonian Oaks.
Friday night’s $46,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was a hat trick for Feelin Red Hot (Brennan, $2.90).
New York Sire Stakes continue downstate Tuesday night (August 6), with the $153,200 Jim Crawford Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Total purses for the 2019 New York-bred program are estimated at $14 million. For more information, please visit nysirestakes.com.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)