BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Monday, August 15, 2016—New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Monday
night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $145,923 Mike Cohen Trot (2-year-old
fillies).
The trio of races honored the memory of
the former Yonkers and NBC Sports publicity director, with family and friends
making winner’s circle presentations.
The third ($48,941)
division was the evening’s fastest, with Barn Bella (Jeff Gregory, $6.10) wiring
her three rivals (two others were scratched). From post position No, 3, she led
through intervals of :29.2, :59.4, 1:30.2 and 1:59.
The final margin was 3½ lengths, with Hotel
Royale (Brian Sears) edging Heel on Wheels (Matt Kakaley) for second.
Mighty Surf (catch-driver Scott Zeron), as the
9-10 favorite, was not enamored of her environs in any way, shape or form. Very
wide early, she eventually found a pocket before breaking, catching herself and
breaking again.
For
second choice Barn Bella, a daughter of Conway Hall co-owned by (trainer) Steve
& Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables, it was her third win in six seasonal
starts. The exacta paid
$30.40, with triple wagering cancelled.
Monday’s
second ($48,941) event saw odds-on Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci, $2.80)—last of
the quintet (one scratch) turning for home after a behind-the-gate bobble—storm
by to win going away.
From
post No. 5, she defeated Run for Royalty (John Campbell) by a
length-and-a-quarter in a life-best 1:59.3, with pace-setting (:30.1, 1:00,. 1:29.3) Flyhawk Charm (Jason
Bartlett) settling for third.
For
Mamora Bay, a Chapter Seven miss trained by her driver for owner Peter Barbato,
she’s now 3-for-5 (with a second and a third) this season. The exacta paid
$18.40, with triple wagering again scrapped.
The
evening’s first ($48,091) sire stakes get-together had the three wagering
choices all misbehave and the pair of double-digit propositions mind their
manners.
Nightflix
Hanover (Ray Schnittker, $29), inheriting a gift pocket from post No. 4, pulled
against Reverend Nanny (Jordan Stratton) by the half, then widened. The final
margin was 13¼ lengths in 2:03.3. Cherry Royal Ruby (Dan Daley), the 9-10
choice, recovered to beat the other two jumpers and finish third.
For
fourth choice ‘Nightflix’, a Credit Winner miss co-owned (with Charlie
Iannazzo, Ted Gewertz and Tom Spatorico) by her driver/trainer, it was a
maiden-breaking win in her fifth start. The exacta paid $115.50, with triple
wagering not offered due to only five scheduled/actual starters.
Statebreds
are back at it at Thursday night, with the $151,624 Jim Meagher Pace
(2-year-old colts/geldings).
