Yonkers Raceway Tuesday evening (July 16) hosted the humid New York Sire Stakes' Hugh Grant Trot for two-year-old fillies, which was comprised of three $52,200 divisions.
There wasn’t much out of the ordinary in the first division. Death-and-taxes Love A Good Story sat off some ambitious fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:27.4 before moving to the lead and drawing clear. From post-position 3 (in one notch after a defection), she whipped Illdotitmyself by three-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:57.2.
C Me Hyde and Seeking Royalty, one-two through those quick early intervals, wound up third and fourth respectively.
For Love A Good Story, a daughter of Chapter Seven co-owned by Pinske Stables & Kentuckiana Racing Stable and trained by Julie Miller, it was her third (NYSS) win in as many seasonal/career starts. Andy Miller drove the $2.20 winner. The exacta paid $32.80, the triple returned $80,50 the superfecta paid $573.
”She’s just so good,” driver Miller said. “She made it look easy.”
The second sire stakes rendition saw a determined Munster hold off a second pocket-pull from Sorprese. From post 5, the former went the distance through splits of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:27.3 in progress to a 1:57.4 maiden-breaking mile, defeating that rival by a length-and-three-quarters.
Seventimesalady was third as the 6-5 favourite with Olympic Glory rounding out the gimmick numbers.
“It was the first time I’d driven her, but she showed she could leave, so I left,” driver Jordan Stratton said. “Then she dug in.”
For second choice Munster, a Chapter Seven miss trained by Per Engblom for co-owners Black Horse Racing and Wiesman Farms, it was that first win in a pair of season/life tries. He paid $5.80 to win. The exacta paid $57, the triple returned $199.50 and the superfecta paid $2,422.
It took until the final statebred soiree for the gauntlet to be thrown down.
Odds-on Hypnotic Am vaulted up and over her six inside rivals—the outside foe was scratched—then had her way in a gapped-out group (:28, :57.4, 1:26.3, 1:56.1). Destiny Blue Chip was third.
The final distance between Hypnotic Am and bridesmaid Really Blue Chip was five-and-three-quarter lengths, while the time was a track record for her weight class; besting Plunge Blue Chip's 1:56.2 set in 2017.
For Hypnotic Am, a homebred Chapter Seven ma’am trained by Marcus Melander for owner Courant Inc., she’s started out two-for-two after another blowout NYSS win (in identical times). Brian Sears drove the $2.70 winner. The exacta paid $24.20, the triple returned $50 and no superfecta wagering due to the presence of a coupled entry.
“Those Melanders do a helluva job,” Sears said.
New York Sire Stakes returns downstate Saturday night (July 27), with the Milt Taylor Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
(with files from Yonkers Raceway)