New York Sire Stakes begin the month downstate, with Yonkers Raceway hosting Thursday night’s $146,024 Lew Barasch Trot for two-year-old colts and geldings.
The event again honoured the memory of the iconic Hall of Fame harness publicist from the sport's golden age.
Only 11 trotters answered the bell in the two divisions, so there was a good chance that if you finished, you made money…and if your name was either Andy and/or Julie Miller, you really made money, as in a two-division sweep.
The opening ($72,312) group saw odds-on favourite Money Macintosh (Andy Miller, $3.60) take over with a decisive move to the backside the second time and close the sale.
Early on, it was Such An Angel (John Campbell) moving around Stick With Me Kid (Brian Sears) right after a :29.1 opening quarter-mile. An ‘Angel Soft’ :59.1 half was of no help when ‘Macintosh,’ sitting fourth from post position No. 5, went up and over before a 1:29 three-quarters. A length-and-three-quarter lead in the lane became 2-3/4 lengths at the (1:58.2) wire.
Stick With Me Kid closed for second, while Meetmeinthemiddle (Jeff Gregory) was third, making a huge recovery after an early, inside-the-cones break. Such An Angel faded to fourth, beating only Swell Chap (Jason Bartlett).
For Money Macintosh, a son of Credit Winner owned (as part of Stroy Inc.) and trained by Julie Miller, it was his fourth win (and seventh board finish) in seven first-season tries.
Thursday’s second ($73,712) Barasch bash saw the Millers at it again, as 3-10 Devious Man (Mr. Miller, $2.60) never had an anxious moment.
From post No. 2, he did as he was requested (:30.2, 1:01, 1:30, 1:58.3) so effortlessly, he probably didn’t need to shower. Zacks Zoomer (Marcus Miller) was a first-up second, beaten a length-and-a-quarter, with Another Chapter (Brett Miller) third. Royal Casanova (Campbell) was fourth, while one breaker (Annapolis Hall [Ray Schnittker]) beat another breaker (Neon Lights [Bartlett]) for the final pay envelope.
For Devious Man, another Ms. Miller-trained, Stroy Inc.-owned son of Credit Winner, he’s now 4-for-7 this season.
(Yonkers Raceway)