BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, September 3,
2015—“She’s very talented, but sometimes I wonder where to put the 50 cents in
because the ride can get bouncy.”
Such was the post-race postulate Thursday
night from driver Jim Morrill Jr. after he—with some able assistance from
odds-on favorite Soft Idea ($3.10)—set a track record during Yonkers Raceway
hosting of the $147,723 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for 2-year-old
fillies.
Soft Idea, this summer’s division
dominatrix, threw down a 1:53.4 gauntlet in the final ($48,941) division.
Leaving from post position No. 3, she took over from second choice American Ivy
(Brian Sears), then held that one at bay by a determined neck. It was more than
three lengths back to Lyra (George Brennan) in third.
The time matched Soft Idea’s life-best,
taken at Vernon. Morrill Jr., ironically, drove Summertime Lea to the previous
local frosh filly track record (1:54.1) three Septembers ago.
For Soft Idea, a daughter of American
Ideal trained by Linda Toscano for co-owners Bay’s Stable, Radio Racing Stable,
South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC, it was her fifth (NYSS) win in seven
seasonal starts. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple (three wagering
favorites in order) returning $18.80.
“We’re looking forward to the (Sept. 26)
sire stakes final,” co-owner Harvey Nagler said.
Morrill Jr. also won Thursday’s second
opening ($49,841) Becerra division, as Time on My Hands ($7.70) overcame her
outside post No. 7 and avoided the first-tune happenstance to widen out in
1:55. Second went to Killing ‘Em Softly (Brennan), with Art Critic (Matt
Kakaley third).
The “Sommelier Special” hunch play went in
the spit bucket early, as Wine Snob (Ray Schnittker) made a first-turn break,
badly impeding 7-5 choice Vino and Formaggio (Sears).
For second choice Time on My Hands, a
daughter of American Ideal co-owned by Robert Mondillo, Michael Robinson, Steve
Cheatham & BFJ Stables and trained by Chris Ryder, she’s now 3-for-5 this
season. The exacta paid $47.60, the triple returning $190.
The opening ($48,941) sire stakes event
saw Dime a Dance (Kakaley, $6.10)—pocketed from post No. 5—whizz by 7-10 fave
Noclouds Bluechip (Sears) by a length in 1:55.4. Angels Rockn Pink (Mark
MacDonald) was third.
For second
choice (coupled with fourth-place finisher Encore Deo [Brennan]) Dime a Dance,
a Roll with Joe miss trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents and
J&T Silva Stables and Blue Chip Bloodstock, it was her second (consecutive)
win in seven tries this season. The exacta paid $6.30, with no triple wagering
to the limited number (five) of wagering interests).
“She just
exploded when I asked her in the lane,” Kakaley said. “As good as she was
winning at Vernon (13 nights ago), she was better here.”
