New York Sire Stakes preliminary leg competition concluded its downstate dance card Thursday, September 13 with Yonkers Raceway hosting the Lew Barasch Trot for two-year-old colts and geldings.
The event again honoured the memory of the legendary publicist and Harness Hall of Famer, whose work at Roosevelt Raceway in general and with the international trot in particular helped keep harness racing in the sporting mainstream. Members of the Barasch family, including the lovely Bunny, were on hand to make winner's circle presentations.
Five divisions were on the agenda, with 7-5 favourite Pine Credit (driven by Lewayne Miller, returned $4.80 for Win) prevailing in the opening split. Away third from Post 6, he grabbed the lead late, then held off second choice Golden Tate (driven by Jay Randall) by a head in 2:01.2.
The second division saw 16-1 shot Blackwolf Run (Sam Schillaci, $34.40) overcome his outside Post 7 start and go right down the road for a maiden-breaking neck win in 2:01.3.
The third division saw odds-on choice Creditora (Trond Smedshammer, $2.40) score a three and a quarter-length win in 2:01.
Tirade Hanover (Sears, $8.10) won the fourth division by a head in 1:57.3, while the final sire stakes event found Royalty For Life (Jason Bartlett) coast to a 12 and three-quarter-length victory in 1:58.4.
(With files from Yonkers)