New York Sire Stakes resumed in Westchester Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $250,012 Frank Becerra Pace for two-year-old fillies
. Four divisions--two off the card, two on--went postward.
The first $63,403 wagering event went to 2-5 favourite Double Major (Jason Bartlett). Leaving from post position No. 2, she had to work to get around pole-sitter Sha Delight (Jim Morrill Jr.) just before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. Double Major then rated a :58.1 half before Up Front Sharon (George Brennan) made her second move.
However, Double Major was able to rate a :29-second third quarter (1:27.1), taking a short lead into the lane. She fought off the lass on her back, beating Sha Delight by a head in 1:55.3. "Sharon" held the bottom of the ticket, with Ramalama (John Campbell) and Sir Erika Z Tam (Pat Lachance) grabbing the remainder.
For Double Major, a daughter of Art Major owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, she returned $2.80 for her fourth win (third consecutive) in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $10, with the triple returning $32.20.
"She's small, but tough," Bartlett said. "Last week [at Monticello], she was first-up against a very good filly and was able to get up. Here, Jimmy went to secure a two-hole, so he stung me to the lead.
"That was a very solid final quarter after she was used hard. I was very pleased."
The second $62,203 on-the-card event--last of the evening--saw the talented Handsoffmycookie (Dan Dube) take out a Sharpee and write her own place in the local record book.
Leaving from post No. 2, the 2-5 choice waited patiently as second choice Bettor B Lucky (Morrill Jr.) set sail through intervals of :28, 58.2 and 1:26. Meanwhile, Handsoffmycookie was second-up behind Park Lane Paige (Brennan), who really wasn't doing much to advance the cause.
Turning for home, Bettor B Lucky widened to four lengths. Then, "Cookie" received the memo. She made a mockery of the final turn, then shaved the deficit in a way that would make the government proud. Going on by the leader with the greatest of ease, Handsoffmycookie ended up running up the score, winning by two and a half expanding lengths in 1:54.2 (final quarter :27.4).
That effort matched the track record for frosh pacing fillies. Bettor B Lucky had no issues saving second, hitting the wire five lengths before Weekend Getaway (Jeff Gregory), with Silk Purse (Bartlett) and Haworth Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker) earning the minor moolah.
For "Cookie," an Art Major miss owned by JFE Enterprise and trained by Scott DiDomenico, she returned $2.80 for her fifth win in a half-dozen first-season starts. The exacta paid $5.40, with the triple returning $35.40.
"She's just been terrific, and I think she's even better when she races off a helmet," DiDomenico said. "I can't say enough about her. We're going to stay with the sire stakes through the end of that season, and then she’s eligible to the Three Diamonds and the Breeders Crown."
Friday night's pair of $62,203 NYSS non-bettors were won by:
- JK Fine Art (by Art Major); co-owners 3 Brothers Stables & William Jacobowitz/trainer Toscano/driver Morrill Jr.; 1:55.4;
- Centralia Hanover (by Art Major); co-owners Rick Phillips and W Springtime Racing/trainer Mark Harder/driver Morrill Jr.; 1:57.2.
Friday's pair of $52,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers at the mile-and-one-sixteenth, went to Lanson (Mike Lachance, $3.70) in 2:02.1, and Shacked Up (Eric Goodell, $4.70) in 1:59.3, respectively. Lanson equalled the track record for aged geldings at the added distance in Lachance’s first local appearance since July 2010.
New York Sire Stakes resume at Yonkers on Monday night, with the $249,400 Elmsford Trot for frosh colts and geldings.
(Yonkers Raceway)