Soph Trotters Invade Yonkers For NYSS

Published: August 22, 2011 09:35 pm EDT

New York Sire Stakes continued its Westchester meet-and-greet Monday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the Michael Sorentino Trot

for three-year-old colts and geldings.

The evening's events honoured a long-time friend of the Raceway - and successful harness horse owner - who passed away in June. Four divisions, including a pair off the card, went postward.

The ultra-sharp - and odds-on - Keenan (Jeff Gregory, $3.30) made it six consecutive wins, wiring (:28.2; 58.4; 1:27.1) the $59,369 final division from the pole in a night's-fastest-by-far 1:56.2. The Credit Winner gelding, owned by Ray Remmen and trained by his brother, Larry, defeated Im The Answer (Trond Smedshammer) by a length, with the way-back machine needed to find New Zion (Robert Krivelin) - beaten 15 1/2 lengths - in third.

For Keenan, it was his 10th win in 16 seasonal starts and earnings in excess of $183,000.

"He's been so consistent all season, like a cash machine," Gregory said. "With the money they race for in sire stakes and (starting next season) in overnights, he could tool around this track and make a very good living."

The evening's third ($58,269) statebred grouping saw Surface Tension (Dan Daley, $10.20) hold off 3-4 choice Bristles Winner (Brian Sears) by a neck in 1:59.2 Wheels (Ray Schnittker) was third as the 67-1 rank outsider.

For Surface Tension, a Cash Hall gelding trained by Daley for co-owners Ann-Mari Daley, Richard Lombardo and Albert Crawford, it was his third win in 10 '11 tries.

"He's had a few problems this season, but his last few starts have been better," Daley said, adding, "I've had a good summer with the New York-breds. I train them to be ready, because they have to be. You're here to play the game, not sit on the bench."

Monday night's two, $58,269 NYSS races went to:

Johnny B Kemp (by Credit Winner); co-owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, David McDuffee/trainer-driver Jimmy Takter; 1:59;

All In Tad (by Conway Hall); co-owners (trainer-driver) Schnittker, Stephen Demeter, Gareth Dowse, John Egloff; 1:59.3.

New York Sire Stakes continue Tuesday night with the $253,560 Tuckahoe Pace (two-year-old colts and geldings).

(Yonkers Raceway)

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