Yonkers Raceway Friday night hosted the $151,625 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cohen Trot for two-year-old fillies.
The event went in five, same-worth $30,325 divisions. The quintet of races honoured the memory of the former Yonkers and NBC Sports publicity director, with his family and friends making winner’s circle presentations.
The Canadian-owned Lima Playtime (Mark MacDonald, $7.50) did her equine Roger Bannister impression, cracking the two-minute mile in the third division. Though wide early from post position No. 4, she aired by four and three-quarter lengths in a night’s-fastest/life-best 1:59.4.
Dizzy Broad (Jim Morrill Jr.), cursed with the compliment of “trot between breaks,” crossed the line second as the 2-5 favourite, but was set down to fifth (last). That placement moved Hustle Heart (Brian Sears) to second and Love Crazy Love (Gates Brunet) to third.
For second choice Lima Playtime, a daughter of Credit Winner co-owned by trainer Rick Zeron, Millar Farms, James Walker and Dr. Paul Fisher, it was her second consecutive New York Sire Stakes win in three first-season starts. The exacta paid $36, with triple wagering cancelled after a pair of early scratches.
“Rick said she couldn’t lose, and he was right,” MacDonald said.
The final Cohen event found odds-on Posterity (Charlie Norris, $3.30) winning both her draw and her race, the latter detail by four and three-quarter lengths (same margin as Lima Playtime) in a flat two minutes. Zette Starlet (Tyler Buter) was second at 53-1, with Go Mary Go (Ray Schnittker) third.
“She’s become a lot better,” Norris said. “She didn’t start out that way, but she’s really come along.”
For Posterity, a Lucky Chucky lass co-owned by her trainer/driver, Janine Zito and Buck Sprinkle, she’s now three-for-four this season. The exacta paid $76.50, with the triple returning $138.
The first division saw pole-sitting I Will Take Credit (Dan Daley, $16.60) pick off pacesetting, 8-5 choice Royal Right (Brian Sears) by a neck in a maiden-breaking 2:01.1. Wendys Girl (Jordan Stratton) was a ground-saving third.
For fifth choice I Will Take Credit, a daughter of Credit Winner trained by her driver for co-owners Ann-Mari Daley, James Crawford IV, Richard Lombardo and Donald Brenner, it was that first win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $39.40, with the triple returning $361.50.
The evening’s other sire stakes divisions were won by:
--Non Stick (by Lucky Chucky); co-owners (trainer) Ake Svandstedt, Little E LLC/driver Dan Dube; 2:01.1/$2.80;
--Dazzling Dollars (by Cash Hall); owner Purple Haze Stables LLC/trainer and driver Trond Smedshammer; (first-life win) 2:00.1/$8.30.
Friday night’s $48,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was won by Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett, $3) in 1:53.1.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)