BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, June 21, 2018—New
York Sire Stakes returned downstate Thursday night (June 21st), with
Yonkers Raceway hosting the $172,499 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies.
There are three consecutive
divisions—worth $56,833, $57,833 and $57,833, respectively—comprised the event.
The opening event saw favored Newsday (Jim
Marohn Jr., $4.50) do her damage from off the pace in 1:55.
Unhurried from post position No. 5, she
advanced from third-over behind Betterthangraduate (Matt Kakaley) and Painted
Lady (Eric Goodell).
The outer tier inhaled early leader Tell
Me a Joke after that one’s road work of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.4. Newsday closed
widest and fastest, measuring off Painted Lady by a neck. Third went to
Kimberlee (Jason Bartlett) in a good effort, with Betterthangraduate and Better
Than Happy (Jordan Stratton) rounding out the payees. Tell Me a Joke faded to
sixth.
For Newsday, a daughter of Art Major
co-owned by (trainer) Richie Silverman, Michael Gluckman, Mary Arnold and
Edward McEnery, it was her second win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid
$27.80, the triple retuned $135 and the superfecta paid $523.
Thursday’s second NYSS division had
another wagering choice, Pueblo Blue Chip (George Brennan, $5.20), outgame Ms.
Cheesman (Jimmy Whittemore) in 1:54, matching her life-best effort.
Away a loose third from post No. 6, Pueblo
Blue Chip watched as Hurrikane Shorty (Marohn Jr.) led through intervals of
:27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.2.
About the time Pueblo Blue Chip was
approaching the leader, Ms. Cheesman bulled her way out of the pocket, forced
the eventual winner three-wide.
Both lasses eventually went by Hurrikane
Shorty, with Pueblo Blue Chip whipping Ms. Cheesman by a half-length.
Hurrikane Shorty saved the bottom of the
ticket, Silk Reed (Morrill Jr.) and Azreal As it Gets (Brian Sears) came away
with the minors.
For Pueblo Blue Chip, an American Ideal
miss trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, Michael Guerrero
and Menary Racing, it was her second (NYSS) win in three ’18 tries. The exacta
paid $16.80, the triple (three wagering choices in order) retuned $63.50 and
the superfecta paid $473.50.
The evening final’s statebred grouping was
another formful result, as odds-on Wisdom Tree (Scott Zeron, $3.40) went down
the road (:27.2, :56.2, 1:24.1, night’s-fastest 1:52.1).
From post No. 5, Wisdom Tree gave nothing
else a chance, opening down the backside and giving last season’s frosh
divisional champ, Alexis Faith
(Morrill Jr.), too much work to do.
Wisdom Tree
had three lengths off the final turn, then defeated a two-move Alexis Faith by
a length-and-a-quarter. Presto Blue Chip (Stratton), Apothic (Brennan) and
Believe in Me (Sears) picked off the minor moolah.
For Wisdom Tree, a Betterthancheddar lass
co-owned by Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher & trained by Ed Hart, it
was her sixth win in eight seasonal efforts. The exacta (two wagering choices
in order) paid $8.30, the triple retuned $47.40 and the superfecta paid $400.50
The next New
York Sire Stakes visit is Tuesday’s (June 26th) $158,000 Jim Meagher
Pace (2-year-old colts/geldings).
