Yonkers Raceway bid adieu to August Monday night, as it hosted the New York Sire Stakes' Bruce Hamilton Pace for three-year-old pacing fillies.
The event, neatly divided into a trio of $55,125 divisions, honoured the memory of a certified mover and shaker (as well as a fairly decent soul) in the state’s racing and breeding program. Bruce’s family was on hand for winner’s circle presentations.
Devil Child (Jimmy Whittemore, $8.60), from post position six, rallied from sixth turning for home to pick off sire-stakes debuting Hey Kobe (Mark MacDonald) by a head in 1:54.2 in the first division. Bossers Joy (Jason Bartlett) finished third, beaten a neck.
For third choice Devil Child, a daughter of American Ideal co-owned by (trainer) Homer Hochstetler, James Michaels and South of the Tracks Racing, it was her fourth win in 15 seasonal starts.
“She’s had a tough season, bad posts and some bad luck,” Whittemore said of Devil Child. “This was a good win for her.”
Odds-on Sassa Hanover (Yannick Gingras, $2.70) methodically disposed of her six foes, essentially going the distance in 1:52.1. The margin was a length-and-a-half, with Luck Be A Lindy (Scott Zeron) second and Heart Major (Brian Sears) third.
For Sassa Hanover, a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven co-owned (as Burke Racing Stable LLC) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi LCC, Panhellenic Stable and Larry Karr, she’s now 4-for-12 this season.
“Much better the last couple of starts,” was Gingras’ assessment of career winner of more than $700,000.
Pole-sitting Bedroomconfessions (Sears, $13.80) was gifted with the passing lane, and she passed, whipping pace-setting Band Of Angels (Gingras) by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.1. Divine Caroline (Dave Miller), as the 6-5 choice, was another who pulled pocket and flattened, settling for third. Second choice Mosquito Blue Chip (Morrill, Jr.) broke leaving.
For Bedroomconfessions, an American Ideal lass co-owned (as Alagna Racing) by trainer Tony Alagna and Riverview Racing, it was her third win in 12 seasonal starts.
(Yonkers Raceway)