YONKERS
NY, Saturday, September 22, 2012--Yonkers Raceway played host to the richest
night of racing in the state Saturday, the $1.8 million New York Night of
Champions, proudly hosted by Yonkers Raceway.
Eight, $225,000 sire stakes divisional finals--for 2- and 3-year-old of both
sexes and gaits—in the 23rd Night of Champions, which were each again sponsored
by a prominent Empire breeding farm or ownership group. The Reader's Digest
recaps...
Crawford Farms 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot--Pole-sitting favorite Fashion
Blizzard (Jim Morrill Jr., $3.40) cut the mile.(:28.4, :57.3, 1:28.1) and was
resurgent in the lane, holding off second choice Tirade Hanover (Brian Sears)
by a head in 1:57.4. Twisted Pretzel (Cat Manzi) was third, beaten 5¼
lengths. Royalty for Life (Jason Bartlett), who figured to be a player, broke
in the first turn.
Fashion Blizzard, a homebred son of Credit Winner owned by Fashion Farms and
trained by Jim Campbell, is now 4-for-8 with three seconds and a third this
season. The exacta paid $5.90, with the triple returning $37.40.
Morrisville College Equine Institute 2-Year-Old Filly Trot--It was even-money
You Want Me (Tim Tetrick, $4) getting the job done. Leaving from post position
No. 2, she made it five wins in a row, ducking inside in a wild-scramble
finish. Isabella Gal (Sean Bier) was grabbed second from second-over, with Lady
Riviera (Morrill Jr.) third after trying it first-up. Barn Babe (John Cummings
Jr.) was a needing-room fourth after leaving well from the eight-hole.
You Want Me, a daughter of Credit Winner co-owned by (trainer) Paul Kelley and
William Weaver III, had those five win in nine '12 tries. The exacta paid
$82.50, the triple returned $217.50 and the superfecta paid $590.
Winbak Farm 2-Year-Old Filly Pace--Divisional dominatrix Summertime Lea
(Morrill Jr.. $2.40) ended her statebred season in the winner's circle, as
usual. Leaving from post No. 2, she was patiently pocketed behind Hit the Curb
(Jason Bartlett). "Lea" edged out early in the final turn, then
coasted home by a length-and-a half. Brussels Hanover (George Brennan) was a
cone-skimming second, with Hit the Curb saving the bottom of the ticket.
"Lea," a daughter of Lislea, co-owned by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver
Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Earl Smith, is now 8-for-9 after a fifth
consecutive victory
Cameo Hills Farm 3-Year-old Filly Pace--In what figured to be a three-horse
event, 4-5 choice Romantic Moment (Sears, $3.70) made short work of everyone.
Away alertly from post No. 6, she controlled the cotillion (:27.3, :57, 1:25.4,
1:53.1) as she pleased. Romantic Moment whipped defending sire stakes champ
Handsoffmycookie (Tetrick) by a length-and-a-half as "Cookie" photoed
Major Look (Andy Miller) for second. Ramalama (Morrill Jr.) was a
first-up fourth.
Romantic Moment, an American Ideal miss trained by Jimmy Takter for owner
Brittany Farms, remains board-perfect this season with eight wins, two seconds
and a third in 11 efforts (earnings more than $728,000). The exacta paid $7,
the triple returned $11.80 and the superfecta (four wagering choices in order)
paid $36.
"She's always shown up," Takter said. "She overcome the post
this evening and I thought she raced very well."
Kenneth J Syndicate 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace--Irony (and talent) had a race
sponsored by a Ken Jacobs-owned double sire stakes champ won by another upper
echelon Ken Jacobs-owned colt in odds-on Doctor Butch (Tetrick, $2.30).
"Butch," from post No. 3, took over from Bet the Moon (:27, 56.1,
1:25, 1:53.1), beating that rival by a length-and-a-quarter. Framed Art (Mark
MacDonald) was a first-up third.
Doctor Butch, a son of Art Major trained by Linda Toscano, ended his summer
with eight wins and a trio of seconds in 11 tries (earnings of $324,000-plus).
The exacta paid $3.60 and the triple (three wagering choices in order) returned
$6.30.
Stirling Brook Farms 3-Year-Old Filly Trot--Millionairess Win Missy B (Sears)
was blessed with high speed, but cursed with high temperament. Fresh off her
track-record effort here in her career small-track debut, she picked a bad
night to have a bad night. The 1-2 choice broke leaving, paving the way for
Cowgirl Hall (Morrill Jr., $5.30) Leaving from post No. 3, "Cowgirl"
set unpressured intervals (:28.4, :58.1, 1:27.4, 1:57.1). She defeated
pocket-protecting Kristin's Victory (Steve Smith) by 2¼ lengths, by Annandamide
(Brennan) third. Win Missy B wound up distanced.
Cowgirl Hall, a daughter of Cash Hall trained by Gates Brunet for co-owners Ted
Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal, Jean Brunet and Deborah Brunet, has won seven of 15
seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.80, with the triple returning $128.
Allerage Farm 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot-The rain, which had threatened to
make a guest appearance all night, crashed the last couple of finales with a
vengeance. Here, Yonkers Trot winner and world champion Archangel was
sent postward as the 7-10 choice despite an eight-hole impost. He settled in
fourth as second choice Brookroad Knight (Jeff Gregory) jumped it off.
Meanwhile, third choice Coraggioso (Sears, $11) was sailing along (:28.1; 58.0;
1:27.1) from post No. 6. Down the backside the second time, Archangel had the
leader in his sights...only to break stride in the final turn. That ended the
suspense portion of the event, with Coraggioso going on to win by three handy
lengths in 1:57.1. A Penny Earned (catch-driver Tetrick) was able to get into
second at 56-1, with Mado Dream (Brennan) a pocket third. Archangel was
seventh-placed-eighth.
"I just think he was moving too fast out in the two-patch and may be
overtrotted," co-owner/trainer Peter Arrigenna said. "He came out of
the race alright, and all we can do is look ahead (to Lexington)."
Coraggioso, a homebred son of Conway Hall trained by Gates Brunet for co-owners
Joe Spadaro and Tom Durkin, is now 7-for-14 this season with earnings past
$412,000. The exacta paid $232,50, the triple paid $995 and the superfecta paid
$15,673 (base $2 wager).
Blue Chip Farms 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace--Perhaps the Little Brown Jug
should be renamed the Night of Champions Prep. Major Bombay (Miller, $18),
fresh from his Thursday excursion at Delaware, OH (fifth in his elim), outdrew
his rivals here and made 'em pay (:27.1, :56, 1:23.3, 1:52.2).
Breakin' the Law (Bartlett) was breakin' in the pocket, though recovered to
cross the line second, surviving an inquiry while beaten three-quarters of a
length. Last season's NYSS champ, Heston Blue Chip (Tetrick), had to settle for
third as this season's 3-10 favorite.
Major Bombay, an Art Major colt trained by Tony Alagna for co-owners Aaron
Waxman, Louis Willinger, John Fodera and Major Bombay Partners, upped the
seasonal resume to four wins (as tonight’s fourth choice) in 14 starts
(earnings in excess of $308,000).
Saturday night's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by Great Vintage (Dan Dube,
$8.20) in 1:52.1.
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.
