Yonkers Raceway hosted New York Night of Champions (Part II) on Saturday night, featuring four, $225,000 sire stakes finals for two-year-olds.
The New York Sire Stakes events were each, again, sponsored by a prominent Empire breeding farm.
Allerage Farm Colt/Gelding Trot
After a perfect (seven-for-seven) summer, 3-10 favourite Dayson (Jeff Gregory) “chose” the fall to have his first fall. He jumped it off leaving the gate, caught the field, then broke again. That left the aptly-named Allerage Echo (Brian Sears, $11.80) with a lonesome lead, and he did the rest. Starting from post position No. 3, he traversed the terrain (:29, :58.3, 1:28, 1:57.2) in a life-best effort.
Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Daley) closed well for second, beaten two and a half lengths, with Reve Royale (Jason Bartlett) third. That one was a stablemate of the winner, but raced uncoupled (bona fide separate ownership).
For third choice Allerage Echo, a Conway Hall gelding trained by George Ducharme for owner Ken Jacobs, the win was his fifth in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $160, with the triple returning $833.
”It’s his determination,” Ducharme said. “He just tries every start, and the big track won’t pick him up. He goes as fast on a half as he does on the mile.
“We’re looking forward to next season.”
Crawford Farms LLC Filly Trot
Nothing has been able to stick with Non Stick (Dan Dube, $6.60), who made in six wins in as many starts. From post No. 5, he wanted the lead (:28.4), then rated the rest to his satisfaction (:58.4, 1:28.2, 1:58.2).
The final margin, over Dazzling Dollars (Trond Smedshammer), was two and three-quarter lengths, with Goosebump Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.) a pocket third as part of the 13-10 favoured entry. Dizzy Broad (Matt Kakaley), “Goosebump’s” partner, was fourth, with Posterity (Charlie Norris) fifth.
For third choice Non Stick, a daughter of Lucky Chucky co-owned by trainer Ake Svanstedt and Little E LLC, the win was her third with Dube doing the honours. The exacta paid $47.80, the triple returned $144 and the superfecta paid $367.
“She does everything right,” Dube said. “She wants to do it and she’s just going to get better.”
Winbak Farm Filly Pace
They gave Dime A Dance (Kakaley, $6.20, part of three-headed entry) some pace to chase, and she did the rest.
From post No. 7, she saw an early scrum between 9-5 fave Time On My Hands (Bartlett), American Ivy (Sears) and track record-holder Soft Idea (Morrill Jr.). That trio forced the issue (:26.3, :55.3), with Dime A Dance slipping in fourth. She engaged Soft Idea toward a 1:24.1 three-quarters, eventually whipping an inside-diving Time On My Hands by a length and a half. Soft Idea faded to third, beaten two and a half lengths.
For second choice Dime A Dance (and partners), a daughter of Roll With Joe trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva Stables, the win was her fourth (consecutive) in nine ’15 tries. The exacta paid $16.60, with the triple returning $41.
“A sweetheart to drive,” Kakaley said. “I loved the speed duel in front of me, and she took over from there.”
Genesee Valley Farm Colt/Gelding Pace
As with Non Stick, odds-on Travel Playlist (Marcus Miller, $3.30) entered then exited the evening undefeated. Making short work of his rivals from post No. 7, he stepped swiftly early, then won under wraps (:26.2, :55.4, 1:25.2, 1:54.3).
“Playlist” put away a second move from Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace winner Autotune Hanover (Tyler Buter) down the backside, widened to three lengths entering the lane before winning by two and a half lengths. Fine Diamond (Kakaley) rallied well for bridesmaid honours as the 67-1 rank outsider, with Autotune Hanover holding third.
For Travel Playlist, a son of Art Major trained by Erv Miller for co-owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, Ronald Michelon, Taylor Made Stallions and Fred Hertrich III, he’s now five-for-five to begin his career. The exacta paid $124.50, with the triple returning $250.
“I didn’t want to leave that hard just to get away third,” Marcus Miller said. “He’s just a smart colt. He allows me to race him when I need to and back it down when I can. I saw the fillies tire after some fast fractions in their race, but he felt very good.”
Saturday night’s pair of $48,000 Open Handicaps were won by pacer Take It Back Terry (George Brennan, $3.90) in 1:50.4 and trotter Meladys Monet (Bartlett, $2.70) in 1:55.2.
Special Saturday props to Limelight Beach (Brennan, $4.70), whose 1:50.1 flogging of the field in the $36,000 seventh-race pace matched the all-age (Crombie A, Forty Five Red) track record.
(Yonkers Raceway)