On Monday, August 25, Yonkers Raceway hosted the New York Sire Stakes’ Pat Quaglietta Trot for two-year-old fillies.
Four divisions comprised the event.
Division leader Barn Doll (driven by Jeff Gregory and returned $3.10 on a successful win wager) did nothing to diminish her standing, as she won the $49,150 third division in 1:58.4, which was the fastest division of the evening. Racing second-up from Post 4, she went up and over a last-turn-bolting Nunkeri (Mark MacDonald), who she eventually defeated by three-quarters of a length. Frou Frou (Jim Morrill Jr.) was a best-of-the-rest third. The effort was just two ticks off the track record (Some Girls, 2010) for the division.
“She’s just a professional and she enjoys what she does,” Gregory said. “Mark’s filly looked like she wanted to go home early, but nothing seems to bother (Barn Doll).”
For Barn Doll – a daughter of Conway Hall that is co-owned by (trainer) Steve and Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables – it was her sixth win in what was her eighth seasonal start. The exacta paid $6.30, with the triple (three wagering favourites in order) returning $12.20.
Driver George Brennan doubled his pleasure in the first two ($49,150 each) divisions, as he scored with odds-on Pig Hunt ($2.50) in 2:01 and with second choice Counsellor AS ($5.80) in 2:00.3
The former, a Conway Hall miss, controlled the race from the pole position and eventually defeated the pocket-sitting Zanna Blue (Gates Brunet) by three-quarters of a length. Summer Scent (Dan Daley) was third.
As for Pig Hunt, who is co-owned by (trainer) Jennifer and Janice Connor, she’s now 4-for-7 this season. The exacta (two wagering favourites in order) paid $8.20. The triactor returned $28.40.
“The best thing about her? She trots,” Brennan said. “I was able to back it down enough (1:31.3 three-quarters) to make sure she had something late.” Both Barn Doll and Pig Hunt are 2-for-2 locally in NYSS competition.
Counsellor AS, who was second-up from Post 4, went right by even-money Miss Bville J (Morrill Jr.) and drew out to win by a couple of lengths. Make it Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker) was third.
As for the ‘Counsellor’ – who is a Conway Hall homebred miss that is owned Acl Stuteri Ab and trained by Annette Lorentzon – it was her third win in what was her eighth seasonal start. The exacta paid $14.40 and the triactor returned $30.40.
“She’s learning,” Brennan said. “I think she’d have won the last time, but I drove her off her feet.”
The evening’s final sire stakes event went to down-the-road favourite Concentration (Brian Sears, $4.30). She had started from Post 4 and got the job done in 1:59.3. The margin of victory was one and three-quarter lengths over Duolectra (Brennan), who skimmed the cones to grab second at post-time odds of 28-1. Shaqline (Jimmy Takter) was third.
As for Concentration – who is a daughter of Conway Hall that is owned by Raymond Campbell and trained by George Ducharme – she’s 3-for-7 in her first season. The exacta paid $88.50, with the triactor returning $332.50.
(With files from Yonkers)