BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Thursday, August 11, 2016—Yonkers Raceway Thursday night hosted the
$164,874 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace for 3-year-old fillies.
Two,
$82,437 divisions made up the event, which once again honored the memory
of a certified mover and shaker (as well as a fairly decent soul) in the state’s
racing and breeding program.
The opening Hamilton group saw Soft Idea
(Scott Zeron, $15.40), from post position No. 4, work out a perfect,
second-over trip. She was able to get the lane jump on pocketeer Milky Way Rae
(Jim Morrill Jr.), whipping that one by a neck in 1:54.3. Encore Deo (George
Brennan) was third.
Time on My Hands (Jason Bartlett), as the
4-5 favorite, led the lasses (:27.4, :57.2, 1:26), but caved badly through the
stretch and finished last—beaten 10¼ lengths—among the seven.
For third choice Soft Idea, an American Ideal filly trained by Linda Toscano
for co-owning stables South Mountain, Bay’s, Radio Racing and Little E, it was
her third win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $85, with the triple
returning $283.
“The
trip worked out great and she seems to race better from off the pace,” Zeron
said.
The
second sire stakes soiree saw pole-sitting, odds-on Dime a Dance (Matt Kakaley,
$3, part of entry) take over from fresh Lasix Wishy Washy Girl (Morrill Jr.), then
complete her civic duties (:27.4;
:57.3, 1:25.4, 1:53.3).
Dime a Dance defeated 27-1 shot WWG by a length,
with No Clouds Bluechip (Zeron) a first-up third.
For
Dime a Dance, a Roll with Joe filly trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Our
Horse Cents and J&T Silva Stables and Blue Chip Bloodstock, she’s now
4-for-9 this season. The exacta paid $38.20, with the triple returning $96.
“She’s
much better now,” Kakaley said. “Early in the season, she was flat, but she’s
finishing better the past few starts.”
Sire
stakes continue Friday night, with the $150,224 Milt Taylor Trot (2-year-old
colts/geldings). Two divisions (races 6 and 7) at $75,112 each comprise the
event.
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