Yonkers Raceway will host its first New York Sire Stakes event of the season Thursday evening, as three divisions of the Hugh Grant Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings have been drawn.
The three divisions have been carded as Race 1 (purse $72,800), 4 ($74,100) and 11 ($74,100) on the 12-dash program.
The opening division looks to be a two-horse affair, as Western Conquest (PP1, Marcus Miller) is scheduled to face off against Ideal Fashion (PP3, David Miller). Both are sons of American Ideal. The latter will be making his seasonal NYSS debut after having tested the local Open waters in the Art Rooney Pace (he finished third in his elimination and eighth in final).
Thursday’s second division finds Jeneral Patton (PP3, Tim Tetrick), fresh off a life’s-best 1:49.4 NYSS effort at Vernon Downs. The Art Major colt that was unraced at two is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano. Sir Sams Z Tam (PP1, Pat Lachance) has a Tioga NYSS win on his seasonal resume.
The evening’s third division looms quite compelling, as Twin B Speedo (PP4, Mark MacDonald) and El Bloombito (PP7, Tim Tetrick) are set to square off. ‘Speedo’ and ‘Bloombito’ were both winners at Tioga Downs, with the latter subsequently winning at Vernon Downs. Capital Account (PP5, Yannick Gingras) and Ideal Cowboy (PP6, Brian Sears) will also contest the third division.
(With files from Yonkers)