BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, August 18,
2016—New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Thursday night, with Yonkers
Raceway hosting the $151,624 Jim Meagher Pace for 2-year-old colts and
geldings. The pair of races honored the memory of the Raceway’ long-time
corporate controller.
The outcomes were eerily similar in
both resume in result.
The winners graduated from the
Excelsior ranks, did their damage from off-the-pace and left town 5-for-5 to
begin their careers.
The opening ($75,112) event saw
favored Serious Major (Scott Zeron, $4.70)—from post position No. 2—moved from
third down the backside. He rolled past Chip Walther (Marcus Miller) down the
backside, then widened to win by 2¼ lengths in 1:56.2.
Willie Joe Hill (Pat Lachance) was
perched second-over as the second choice, but never came close. He did hold
second, with Americanfirewater (Jim Marohn Jr.) a third-over third.
For
Serious Major, an Art Major colt making his sire stakes debut, it was his
third win for Chris Ryder, who now trains the Emerald Highlands Farm homebred.
The exacta paid $9.50, with the triple returning $80.
“When
the sent him to me, I couldn’t guarantee he’d stay unbeaten,” Ryder said. “He
had proven himself (in the Excelsior), so there was no reason not to try him
here.
“He’s
not fast, but he tries.”
Thursday’s
second ($76,512) division saw another one from the Excelsior finishing school
do good work.
Eight-baller
Funknwaffles (Joe Bongiorno, $10.80) left for a tuck sixth, then patrolled from
third-over. He was actually gapping the outer tier before unleashing a furious
wide rally in and out of the final turn.
Funknwaffles,
fifth turning for home, whipped a pocketed What’s Goin’ On (Mark MacDonald) by
two lengths in 1:55.4. Very Special Agent (Zeron) was third, while 1-2 choice
Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley) could not sustain an uncovered bid and was a non-threatening
fifth.
For
Funknwaffles, a son of American Ideal owned by Crawford Farms Racing and
trained by John Butenscheon, it was his second NYSS after a trio versus The
exacta paid $182, with the triple returning $606.
“He
was very good,” Bongiorno said. “He did it wrapped up.”
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