YONKERS,
NY, Monday, July 16, 2012—It was as advertised Monday night, with Yonkers
Raceway offering the $338,304 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace.
Standout 3-year-old fillies Handsoffsmycookie (Tim Tetrick) and Romantic Moment
stood out, each finding minimal resistance in their respective $84,951
divisions.
Handsoffmycookie, right up there with death and taxes, made it 6-for-6 lifetime
locally. Leaving from post position No. 4, the 1-20 proposition made the lead
around pole-sitting New York Kitty (George Brennan) just after a :27.1 opening
quarter-mile.
From there, intervals of 56.3; 1:24.4 and 1:53 had her three lengths to the
good at the wire. New York Kitty saved second over a rallying Ryder Blue Chip
(Jason Bartlett). For "Cookie," a daughter of Art Major owned by JFE
Enterprises and trained by Scott DiDomenico. she returned the lawful-minimum
$2.10 for her third win in five seasonal starts (12-for-17 lifetime with
earnings over $780,000). The exacta paid $3.20, with the triple returning
$9.10.
Romantic Moment (Yannick Gingras, $2.30) went down the road (:28, :56.4,
1:25.2, 1:53.3) in the final grouping, holding Eightunrdolarbill (Brennan) at
hoof's length by three-quarters of a length. Ramalama (Eric Goodell) was third
For Romantic Moment, an American Ideal lass owned by Brittany Farms and trained
by Jimmy Takter, she's now 4-for-6 this season with earnings in excess of
$290,000 (board-placed in 11 of her 12 career starts). The exacta paid $3, with
the triple returning $10.
Monday's other Hamilton hi-jinx, worth $84,591 and $83,451, respectively, were
won by...
--Zellweger Bluechip (by American Ideal); co-owners West Wins Stb,Good Times
Stbs,Joseph LaCova,John Campagnuolo /trainer Casie Coleman/driver Brennan;
(life-best) 1:54.1/$8.40;
--Hearts N Flowers (by Artiscape); owner Bay Pond Racing Stable/trainer Richard
Nifty Norman/driver Jeff Gregory; (life-best) 1:55.3/$37.80.
Monday's events honored the memory of the former Executive Secretary of the
Harness Horse Breeders of New York. an instrumental figure in the tremendous
success of the statebred program. Hamilton's family was on hand to make the
winner's circle presentations.
The
Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post
every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
