BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, August 17,
2017—Yonkers Raceway Thursday night (Aug. 17th) played host to the
$156,000 New York Sire Stakes Clyde Hirt Pace for 2-year-old fillies.
Three divisions, worth $52,000 each, went
postward.
The opening event saw 3-10 favorite
Youaremycandygirl (Yannick Gingras) brush to the lead around second choice
Alexis Faith (Jim Morrill Jr.). The official horse of the Archies then set
intervals of :28, 57.3 and 1:27.1,
only to fold off the final turn.
Alexis Faith
($8.40), from post position No. 2, ducked inside, defeating a second-over, 32-1
Line Dancer (Brett Miller) by a half-length in 1:55.3. Sand Artist was a
first-up third, while odds-on ‘Candygirl’ faded to fifth among the half-dozen
For Alexis
Faith, a daughter of American Ideal Ontario co-owned by West Wins Stable, Jim
Fielding, J. Robert Darrow and Kevin McKinney, she remains perfect (5-for-5) to
begin her career. The exacta paid $160.50, with the triple returning $820.
The second
sire stakes grouping, was won by second choice All on Top Hanover (Andy Miller,
$6.40). Pocketed—after a retake—from post No. 6, she pulled early against
that stubborn foe, even-money choice Python Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett).
Rebuffed once
through intervals of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:26, All on Top Hanover did eventually prevail, besting her rival
by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:55.4.
American Myth
(Brett Miller) was a loose-pocket third.
For All on Top Hanover, a
Betterthancheddar miss co-owned by (trainer) Erv Miller, Crawford Racing,
Ronald Michelon and George Golemes, she’s now 3-for-6 this season. The exacta
paid $21.20, with the triple returning $123.
The final sire stakes grouping saw no one
able to Get Shorty, as in Hurrikane Shorty (Bartlett, $2.50). With no anxious
moments from the pole, the 1-4 choice won by a comfortable length (:28.3, :58.1, 1:27.2, 1:55.4).
Betterthangraduate
(Matt Kakaley) chased from the pocket and held second, with Azreal as it Gets
(Brian Sears) a closing third.
For Hurricane 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 third win in five first-season tries.
The exacta paid $8, with the triple returning $28.20.
