BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Thursday, July 24, 2014—Yonkers Raceway Thursday night hosted the $217,000 New
York Sire Stakes $217,000 Michael Sorentino Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings. A total of 11 entered a pair of
six-figure divisions.
The first
($107,500) grouping saw last season’s frosh statebred champion Flyhawk El
Durado (Mark MacDonald, $6.30) finish what he started (:28.1, :57.4, 1:26.3, 1:55.3). What started out of as a quintet quickly become a
foursome when 7-5 favorite Expressive Action (Mike Simons) broke leaving in the
first turn.
Later on, a three-hole-sitting Lukas Hall (Jason Bartlett)
also danced. “El Durado,” meanwhile, could not shake a pesky Zoey De Vie (Jim
Morrill Jr.), though he did eventually whip that one by a length-and-a-half.
Daley Lovin (Dan Daley) was third.
For third choice Flyhawk El Durado, a son of Conway Hall
trained by Mark Ford for owner Martin Scharf, it was his third win
in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $15, and there was no triple wagering.
“He can leave the gate and just about always trots four
turns,” MacDonald said. “Last week (NYSS at Monticello), he did make a break
but I think it was some sort of an equipment malfunction.
“Tonight, he was on his game. Obviously, the other horse (Expressive
Action) was one of the ones to beat, and when he made a break, it made my job
easier…but (Flyhawk El Durado) went a real good mile and beat another good
horse (Zoey De Vie).”
The second ($109,500) sire stakes event saw odds-on choice
Gural Hanover (Morrill Jr., $2.30) put up cheapy intervals of :28.1, :58.1,
1:27.3 and 1:56.1 en route to a length-and-a-quarter victory. Leaving outside
his five foes, he worked around second choice Cash Me Out (Mickey McGivern),
then watched as that one tested him early from the pocket. Royal Max
(Bartlett) was third.
For Gural Hanover, a Crazed gelding co-owner (as Burke
Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Little E and Panhellenic
Stables, it was his fifth win (fourth consecutive) in seven ’14 tries. The
exacta paid $3.30, with the triple (three wagering favorites in order)
returning $11.20.
“He’s just two fingers (to drive). You can do anything you
want,” Morrill—his escort over the past four races—said.
New York Sire
Stakes continue Friday night, with the $197,500 Milt Taylor Trot for 2-year-old colts/geldings.
The Raceway's
five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post every Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting
accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available daily.
