Formed pretty much ruled the Tuesday afternoon, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the New York Sire Stakes' Mike Cipriani Trot for three-year-old fillies.
It certainly did in the second ($82,687) division, as Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory, $2.10) won as she pleased. Near the back off the early bus from position No. 5, she methodically moved to the lead just passing the half, then put the hammer down.
The final margin was an unasked 5¼ lengths in 1:55.3. Northern Obsession (Tyler Buter) was a rallying second, with Zanna Blu (George Brennan) third.
For Barn Doll, a daughter of Conway Hall co-owned by (trainer) Steve & Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables, it was her 10th win in a dozen seasonal starts (17-for-21 lifetime). The exacta paid $7.20, the triple returning $62
Form was also in play in the opening ($84,187) sire stakes event, as second choice Lady Winona (Miller) snapped pace-setting 6-5 choice Jewels in Hock (Jim Morrill Jr.) in an identical-to-Barn Doll 1:55.3. The margin here was three-quarters of a length. Frou Frou (Brennan) “won the bob” for third as the 52-1 rank outsider.
For Lady Winona, a Credit Winner miss trained by Julie Miller for owner Stroy Inc. (which includes Ms. Miller), she’s now 3-for-15 this season. The exacta paid $17.20, with the triple returning $459. The hard-working lass was second (ironically, beaten from the pocket) in this past Saturday night’s final of the Hudson Filly Trot.
Tuesday’s sire stakes event honoured the memory of Yonkers’ longtime, award-winning track photographer Mike Cipriani, whose family -— including son, Ralph -- made the winner’s circle presentations.
Special Tuesday props to Grain Of Truth (Jordan Stratton, $17.20) as the ageless (actually 14-year-old) gelding won the $19,000, fifth-race trot in 1:56.1. It was the 81st career win in 336 starts for the now-$1.5 million earner, owned by Charles Iannazzo and trained by Ray Schnittker.
(with files from Yonkers)