A trio of favourites, including Yonkers Trot winner and world champion, Archangel, did their thing Tuesday night in Yonkers Raceway's $331,270 New York Sire Stakes Dick McGuire Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The event paid tribute to the long-time New York Knick player and coach, who also just happened to be an avid horseplayer. Many McGuire family members and friends were on hand to celebrate the evening.
Archangel (Jim Morrill, Jr.), back in Westchester for his first visit since wiring July's $445,594 Yonkers Trot (all-age-track-record-matching 1:54.1), was more than good enough over a "good" surface.
Leaving from post position two in the $111,090 second division, the 1-20 choice sat patiently in the pocket as Mado Dream (George Brennan) led through intervals of :29.1, 58.4 and 1:27.4. Mado Dream actually had a couple of lengths to play with turning for home, but the play date was about to come to abrupt end. Archangel eased out and eased by, winning by a pair lengths in 1:56.4. Mado Dream held second over A Penny Earned (Jordan Stratton).
Archangel returned the minimum-allowed-by-law, $2.10, for his ninth win in 13 seasonal starts ($681,499).
Tuesday's first ($109,090) NYSS division saw Coraggioso (Brian Sears, $2.40) quarter-move to the lead and never have an anxious moment (:29, :59.1, 1:29.3, 1:58.4). He whipped second-choice Gaelic and Garlic (Jim Morrill, Jr.) by 2-¾ lengths, with Classic Conway (Stephane Bouchard) third.
Coraggioso, a Conway Hall colt co-owned by (breeders) Joe Spadaro and Tom Durkin and trained by Gates Brunet, is now 6-for-12 this season.
The evening's final ($111,090) sire stakes event was a public workout for Brookroad Knight (Jeff Gregory). Quickly negating his outside draw, he left around his five foes, then threw down fractions of :29, 59, 1:28 and 1:57.1. Slugfest (Ray Schnittker) saved second - beaten 8-1/2 lengths - over New York Attitude (Fern Paquet, Jr.). Second choice Trouble (Andy Miller) was going nowhere when he made a break.
Brookroad Knight, a homebred CR Excalibur gelding owned by John O'Connor and trained by Bruce Borden, returned $4 for his fifth win in 10 seasonal tries.
(Yonkers Raceway)