BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Tuesday, August 29, 2017—Yonkers Raceway Tuesday night (Aug. 29th)
hosted the $160,400 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for 2-year-old
fillies.
A pair of $80,200 divisions comprised the soggy event.
The opening group was another, odds-on wire job by Hurrikane Shorty (Jason
Bartlett, $2.90). Just as she did when these ladies hit town a dozen nights
ago, there were no issues. This time, from post position No. 3, she led through
intervals of :28, :58.2, 1:27.4 and
1:57.4.
Bettethangraduate (Matt Kakaley) was a good, two-move second—beaten a
length-and-a-quarter—with Ubettergo Go (Mark MacDonald) rallying for third.
For Hurrikane Shorty, a daughter of Art
Major trained by Kevin McDermott for co-owners Little E LLC, Jason Settlemoir,
Arthur Geiger and David Stolz, it was her fourth win in six seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $11.20, the triple returned $65 and the superfecta (Michelle’s
Jazz [Jordan Stratton]) paid $270.50.
“We actually bought this filly off my
brother (trainer John McDermott),” Kevin McDermott said. “He did turn down a
better offer to sell to me, so I owe him one. She’s just beautiful, no head
poles, no murphy blinds and gets around Yonkers very well.”
Tuesday night’s second sire stakes event
had Youaremycandygirl (Yannick Gingras, $4.60, part of entry) make amends for
her poor performance when last seen locally.
In play from post No. 6 this time around,
she took it the distance (:28.3,
:58.3, 1:27.2, 1:55.4). Timid 6-5 favorite Alexis Faith (Jim Morrill Jr.),
5-for-5 coming in, chased first-up from fourth. She did get into the second but
could not sniff the winner as second choice ‘Candygirl’ widened to 3½ lengths
at the wire, Azreal as it Gets (Brian Sears) was third.
For Youaremycandygirl, an American Ideal
miss owned by W J Donovan and trained by Ron Burke, she’s now 3-for-5 this
season. The exacta paid $22.40, with the triple returning $64.50.
“Last time (tiring fifth in NYSS here),
she came back sick and her blood was no good,” Gingras said. “I think she’s
going to be a serious filly.”
