For the second consecutive evening, Yonkers Raceway hosted the Empire's leading three-year-old fillies.
Last night it was the trotting fillies, and tonight it was the pacers in the $244,035 Art Watson. They were divided into $48,807 splits.
Diva Delight (Keith Kash Jr.) stung, then stalked, odds-on choice Hannah Isabel (Yannick Gingras) in the first division before going by the favourite in mid-stretch. She won by a half-length in 1:54.3.
Diva Delight, a daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned by Jack & William Heinz and trained by Jim Perry, has won half of her eight seasonal starts.
The second NYSS division found Ron Pierce prevail with Kissing Bandit, who went down-the-road in 1:55.4. It was the first win in five tries this season for the Art Major miss, who is trained by Erv Miller for Deo Volente Farms.
Pierce doubled his pleasure when Determined Lady won the evening's third Watson event in 1:56.3. The filly sat pocketed to Allamerican Celeb (Greg Grismore) and found the passing lane before the leader tired.
Determined Lady, a daughter of Pacific Fella, was trained by Wayne Hughes for co-owners Frank Buffardi and Vincent Finch.
Artimittateslife rolled in the fourth state-bred soiree, going the distance in 1:55.4 for a third consecutive NYSS victory. Stephane Bouchard did the honours for trainer Ed Hart and Canadian co-owners Bob Young, Brian Barton and Paul Gazzola.
The Art Major miss has won five of her eight starts this season while stashing away earnings in excess of $279,000.
The evening's final NYSS event saw JK Majorette give Bouchard his second NYSS win during an abbreviated local work night. The daughter of Art Major just did edge by a stubborn 47-1 Bet the Ranch (Jim Morrill Jr.) in 1:56.1.
The Linda Toscano trainee won for the fourth time in seven starts this season for 3 Brothers Stables.
(Yonkers Raceway)