YONKERS, NY, Monday, September 10, 2012--The final week of statebred "legs" began Monday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting $286,060 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for 2-year-old fillies. Four formful groupings went at in succession.
Odds-on JK Beauty (Tim Tetrick, $2.60) strolled from first-over in the $71,840
opening division,. Leaving from post position No. 4, she went right on by
pace-setting Know It All (John Stark Jr.) en route to a 5 1/4-length, 1:56.2
victory. Road Bet (Brian Sears) was the best of the rest, with Rochas Hanover
(George Brennan) third and Faster Faster (Jim Morrill Jr.) fourth.
For JK Black Beauty, a daughter of Bettor's Delight owned by 3 Brothers Stables
and trained by Linda Toscano, it was her second win in as many tries (first
NYSS effort, both in identical times). The exacta paid $5.70, the triple
returned $14.60 and the superfecta paid $68.50.
The second ($70,540) sire stakes event saw a free-wheeling Freetime (Andy
Miller, $3) finish what he started. In play from post No. 3, he worked around
Silk Pajamas (Jason Bartlett), then went on a 1:56 joyride. Freetime easily
whipped Silk Pajamas by 3 3/4 lengths, with Exclamation (Morrill Jr.) nearly
three lengths farther back in third.
For Freetime, an Artiscape lass co-owned by her driver and Triple D Stables and
trained by the driver's wife, Julie, she's now 4-for-8 this season with
earnings in excess of $141,000. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $4.40,
with the triple cancelled due to the abbreviated field (down to five after a
scratch).
Monday's third ($71,840) Becerra division found Tetrick and Toscano teaming
again, this time with even-money Give Me an Amen ($4). Leaving from post No. 2,
she needed only hold off pocket-sitting Brussels Hanover (Brennan), which she
did by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.4. Mollie Mile (Morrill Jr.)
was third and Art Ideal (Bartlett) finished fourth.
For Give Me an Amen, an Art Major miss co-owned by Martin Steinberg, Fred
Wallace and Stake Your Claim Stable, it was her fourth win (with three seconds)
in eight '12 tries. The exacta paid $8, the triple (three wagering choices in
order) returned $22.20 and the superfecta paid $115.50.
The evening's final ($71,840) foray produced yet more chalk...and a track
record for this weight class.
In what turned out to be a match race from the get-go, Summertime Lea (Morrill
Jr., $2.90) sat pocketed to second-choice Hit the Curb (Bartlett) through
speedy intervals of :27.1, :56 and 1:24.2. She then edged past her
stubborn foe by a length in 1:54.1. The effort knocked a tick off the previous
local record for frosh fillies, jointly held by the talented troika of City
Delight ('10), See You at Peelers ('10) and Handsoffmycookie ('11).
Park N Orchard (Sears) was third, beaten nearly 11 lengths.
For "Lea," a daughter of Lislea co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer
Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Earl Smith and Frank Baldachino, her third
consecutive (NYSS) victory was her seventh win in eight summertime starts. The
exacta paid $4.50, with the triple (three wagering choices in order) returning
$11.20.
New York Sire Stakes resume downstate Tuesday night, with the $340,268 Joe
Goldstein Trot (3-year-old fillies) and Thursday night with the $286,600 Lew
Barasch Trot (2-year-old colts/geldings).
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.
