The week's downstate New York Sire Stakes agenda concluded Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $282,548 Armand Palatucci Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings
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Four divisions went postward, with Blacktuxwhitesocks (Jeff Gregory) making amends a for his mulligan of a few weeks ago.
Sent off at 3-10 in the first ($69,662) event, "Blacktux"--leaving from post position No. 3--took over from Margarita Man (Ray Schnittker) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. He then found a :57.4 and 1:27.2 three-quarters, with Margarita Man calling it a night from the pocket.
However, the 46-1 Carbon Footprints (Brent Holland) offered an unexpected challenge, taking the vacant seat, then going after the favourite right to the line. Blacktuxwhitesocks--the defending sire stakes champ--was urged to keep his neck un front in 1:56.4. Jocular (Jason Bartlett) was another six lengths back in third.
For "Blacktux," a son of Credit Winner trained by Jessica Okusko for Purple Haze Stables, he retuend $2.70 for his seventh win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44.20, with the triple returning $135.
"His last start [here two weeks ago] was the first time he didn't give me a good effort [tiring to third]," Gregory said. "He came up sick, and I thought he was better tonight. I had to ask him late, but that was a good mile he turned in.
"I think he might be just as good chasing another horse, and in the [September 25] sire stakes final, he may have to, depending on the draw."
Friday night's second ($70,962) statebred event went to a down-the-road Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.), who won the draw and held off 3-4 choice Whata Winner (Jim Doherty) by a neck in 1:58.1 (:57.3 back half). Strong Hope (Eric Goodell) was a first-up third, beaten 4 1/4 lengths.
For Aruba Vacation, a Dream Vacation gelding owned and trained by Guy Howard, he returned $5.70 (second choice) for his eighth win in 11 '10 tries. The ecacta paid $10.60, with the triple returning $37.20.
"He's quietly having a very good season," Paquet said. "I figure it was either going to be me or Jimmy [Doherty] on the lead, and I would have been happy to sit behind him. When he didn't try to retake and I was able to get a cheap half [1:00.3], that definitely helped."
Friday night's other NYSS events, each worth $70,692, were won by:
- Winning Fireworks (by Credit Winner); co-owners Adam Victor & Son Stb and Lindy Farms of Connecticut; trainer Noel Daley/driver Eric Goodell; 1:57.4/$3.80
- Celebrity Bluechip (by Credit Winner); co-owners Celebrity Farms, Herbert Burns III, Stephen Demeter/trainer Staffan Lind/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:57.2/$4.10.
Friday night's pair of $42,500 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff peacers, were won by Neighsay Hanover (Schnittker, $5.10), and Shacked Up (Bartlett, $5.10) in 1:52.3. "Neightsay" trotted the fasted local mile of the season and a set a track record for a gout-year-old horse.
New York Sire Stakes continues here Thursday night, with the $237,636 Lew Barasch Trot for two-year-old colts and geldings.
(Yonkers Raceway)