BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, September 21,
2017—Paprike Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr., $7) and Hitman Hill (catch-driver Eric
Goodell, $2.20) were the Empire’s elite Thursday night (Sept. 21st),
highlighting Yonkers Raceway’s $157,600 New York Sire Stakes Jim Crawford Pace
for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
A pair of $78,800 divisions comprised the
event.
The opening group saw Paprike Blue Chip
put in play from post position No. 5 (in one notch after a scratch). Grabbing
the first lead, he relented to 3-10 choice Casual Cool (Jason Bartlett). The
odds-on number took over just after a :27.2 opening quarter-mile, then rated a
57-second intermission and 1:26 three-quarters.
Silver Arrow (Mark MacDonald) was
loitering first-up while Casual Cool maintained a not-so-casually contested
lead into the lane. The people’s choice took Paprike Blue Chip to the passing
lane, and pass he did.
The second choice whipped the fave by a
length-and-three-quarters in 1:55, with Silver Arrow photoing American Vision
(Jordan Stratton) for third.
For ‘Paprike,’ a Roll with Joe gelding,
trained by John Butenschoen for co-owners Harmony Oaks & Crawford Racing
and VIP Internet Stable, it was his fifth win in 10 seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $9.80, with the triple returning $22.
“It’s not hard to get along with him,”
Morrill Jr.—who has won three times with Paprike Blue Chip—said. “There’s some
class there.”
Thursday’s second sire stakes event saw
undefeated, pole-sitting Hitman Hill break in a new chauffeur after Brett
Miller was unable to get here (from Delaware, OH) in time.
As for Goodell’s post-mortem, ”He was rank
and wild leaving the gate. Very talented, but he needs to control it.”
There were
few stop signs early as My Delight (Brent Holland) made the first lead passing
the :26.3 first subsection. Hitman Hill wanted no place in the pocket, making
the lead and throwing it down (:55.2, 1:23.4).
He owned a
‘iffy’ length-and-and-a-half lead into the lane, appearing there for the
taking.
However, in a
slow (:29:3) final quarter, no one took it. Hitman Hill held off Topville
Olympian (Morrill Jr.) by a head in 1:53.2, with Keystone Tenacious (Jim Marohn
Jr.) third.
For Hitman Hill, an American Ideal gelding
co-owned by Tom Hill & North Fork Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, he’s
won all six of his career tries. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $5.30,
with the triple returning $26.40.
Special Thursday props to Marohn
Jr., whose four victories were a personal local best. No props, at least not
this night, for MacDonald, who remains at 5,999 career wins after going
0-for-9. MacDonald ventures to Vernon Downs Friday night (Sept. 22nd)
for statebred frosh trotting fillies.
