Monday night offered the first local look at the Empire's freshmen fillies, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $233,675 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cohen Trot
.
A pair of off-card events featured a pair of on-form young ladies.
Jezzy (Ray Schnittker) remained perfect in the $46,195 opener, defeating Oakiedokie Hanover (Yannick Gingras) by 3-3/4 lengths in a leisurely 2:01.2, with Stueben Loretta (Claude Huckabone, Jr.) third.
For Jezzy, a daughter of Credit Winner trained by Schnittker for co-owners himself, Jeff Gural (breeder as Little E LLC), Ted Gewertz and Jerry Silva, she's now 7-for-7 with earnings in excess of $131,000.
The second non-bettor, also worth $46,195, saw Some Girls (Gates Brunet) roll to a sixth win in seven freshman tries. She disposed of Tap Tap Dance (Dan Daley) by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1, with Miss Sue V (Brian Mattison) third.
Some Girls, a Conway Hall lass trained by Brunet for himself, Jean Brunet, Gewertz and Michael Rosenthal, has banked more than $102.000 this summer.
The first NYSS wagering division ($47.095) was won by Conwayslassie (Jim Morrill, Jr.), who inherited the pocket before the half, then inhaled 1-2 favourite Epona Blue Chip (Schnittker) in the lane for her maiden victory. She won by a measured three-quarters of a length margin in 2:01.2. Cash On The Rail (Cat Manzi) was third.
For Conwayslassie, a Conway Hall miss trained by Ken Rucker for D'Elegance Stable IX, L P Stable and Carmen Iannacone, she returned $11.80 (second choice) for that first win in six tries.
"She really wanted to trot," Morrill said. "I used her early for position, then was able to get lucky and get in behind Ray. I asked her early (in the final turn), and I was impressed."
The correctly-named - and odds-on-favourite - Refuse To Lose (Manzi) handled her business in the fourth ($47,095) statebred event, beating Sweet Possession (Schnittker) by a couple of lengths in 2:01.3. Em El Cash (Morrill Jr.) was the only other lass in the same zip code. Refuse To Lose returned to N.Y.S.S. competition after a fourth-place finish in the $437,000 final of the Merrie Annabelle.
For Refuse To Lose, a daughter of Conway Hall co-owned by Gewertz and trainer George Teague, she returned $2.90 for her second win in five tries.
"You're always concerned when they come back to the small track, but she was good enough to beat these," Manzi said. "She won when she wasn't at her best, and that's the sign of a talented horse."
Monday night's final N.Y.S.S. event ($47,095) was a break-fest won by 30-1 Ms Tiffany Trooper (Jason Bartlett) in 2:02.1. It was the first career on-the-board finish for the daughter of Giant Hit, owned by Katie Scott and trained by Fritz Haug. Rejoycing (Jeff Gregory) was next best and Imageofasweetday (John Stark, Jr.) was third.
Monday's sire stakes event honoured the memory of the former publicity director at both the Raceway and NBC Sports.
(Yonkers Raceway)