SOFT IDEA’S TRACK RECORD LEADS TRIO OF YONKERS’ 147G NYSS FRANK BECERRA PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, September 3, 2015—“She’s very talented, but sometimes I wonder where to put the 50 cents in because the ride can get bouncy.”

Such was the post-race postulate Thursday night from driver Jim Morrill Jr. after he—with some able assistance from odds-on favorite Soft Idea ($3.10)—set a track record during Yonkers Raceway hosting of the $147,723 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for 2-year-old fillies.

Soft Idea, this summer’s division dominatrix, threw down a 1:53.4 gauntlet in the final ($48,941) division. Leaving from post position No. 3, she took over from second choice American Ivy (Brian Sears), then held that one at bay by a determined neck. It was more than three lengths back to Lyra (George Brennan) in third.

The time matched Soft Idea’s life-best, taken at Vernon. Morrill Jr., ironically, drove Summertime Lea to the previous local frosh filly track record (1:54.1) three Septembers ago.

For Soft Idea, a daughter of American Ideal trained by Linda Toscano for co-owners Bay’s Stable, Radio Racing Stable, South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC, it was her fifth (NYSS) win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple (three wagering favorites in order) returning $18.80.

“We’re looking forward to the (Sept. 26) sire stakes final,” co-owner Harvey Nagler said.  

Morrill Jr. also won Thursday’s second opening ($49,841) Becerra division, as Time on My Hands ($7.70) overcame her outside post No. 7 and avoided the first-tune happenstance to widen out in 1:55. Second went to Killing ‘Em Softly (Brennan), with Art Critic (Matt Kakaley third).

The “Sommelier Special” hunch play went in the spit bucket early, as Wine Snob (Ray Schnittker) made a first-turn break, badly impeding 7-5 choice Vino and Formaggio (Sears).

For second choice Time on My Hands, a daughter of American Ideal co-owned by Robert Mondillo, Michael Robinson, Steve Cheatham & BFJ Stables and trained by Chris Ryder, she’s now 3-for-5 this season. The exacta paid $47.60, the triple returning $190.

The opening ($48,941) sire stakes event saw Dime a Dance (Kakaley, $6.10)—pocketed from post No. 5—whizz by 7-10 fave Noclouds Bluechip (Sears) by a length in 1:55.4. Angels Rockn Pink (Mark MacDonald) was third.

For second choice (coupled with fourth-place finisher Encore Deo [Brennan]) Dime a Dance, a Roll with Joe miss trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva Stables and Blue Chip Bloodstock, it was her second (consecutive) win in seven tries this season. The exacta paid $6.30, with no triple wagering to the limited number (five) of wagering interests).

“She just exploded when I asked her in the lane,” Kakaley said. “As good as she was winning at Vernon (13 nights ago), she was better here.”

GREEN ACRES SEASON BEGINS AS FREEHOLD OPENS 2015 SUMMER-FALL MEET

 by Carol Hodes, for SBOANJ

MANALAPAN, NJ – September 2, 2015 -- The opening leg of New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres and nine other races on Friday, September 4, mark the first program of the 2015 summer-fall Freehold Raceway meet. 

The $7,000 Green Acres leg for two-year-old pacing fillies has been carded as the third race, drawing five entrants [in post order]: Heatherjean, Rock My Girl, On Top of the Rock, LL Jackpot and Rocknroll Palz.  LL Jackpot is a daughter of Philos Hanover while the other four are by Rocknroll Hanover.

All four entrants for the Helen Smith Trot for three-year-old trotting fillies will advance to the $30,000 final on September 11, 2015.

The Helen Smith is among the stakes for New Jersey-sired horses that are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.  The others include the Charles Smith for three-year-old trotting colts [September 17], Harold Dancer for two-year-old trotting colts [September 17], Marion Dancer for two-year-old trotting fillies [October 9] and a quartet of New Jersey Futurity stakes [September 26, October 16, October 23 and October 24]. 

This year’s Helen Smith quartet are Blue Muse, Riley’s Dream, Rules of the Road and Southwind Cartier.  Blue Muse is by Muscles Yankee and the other three are by Muscle Hill.

The Helen Smith stakes record of 1:56.2 is shared by Marla Bar [2002], Silver Credit [2013] and Cee Bee Yes [2014]. 

On Opening Day, the track offers a free t-shirt with a paid Freehold live program, while supplies last.

The Fourth Annual Open Space Pace, featuring a parade of horses, petting zoo, exhibitions, food trucks and live music, will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2015.

The 44-day meet continues through December 12, 2015.  Racing will take place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays plus a holiday program on Labor Day, Monday, September 7.  Post time is 12:30 p.m.

PINKMAN LANDS 7-HOLE FOR YONKERS TROT; DEALT A WINNER POST 5 FOR MESSENGER

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, September 1, 2015—The two lads with Triple Crown aspirations—Pinkman and Dealt a Winner—are going to have to work for their respective second jewels Saturday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting both the half-million dollar Yonkers Trot and the equally-pursed Messenger Stakes.

Post time for the 13-race card is the customary 7:10 PM, with the 61^st Trot going as the sixth race (approximate post 9 PM) and Messenger No. 60 as race No. 8 (approx. 9:40 PM).

Hambletonian champion Pinkman drew post position No. 7, with Yannick Gingras driving for trainer Jimmy Takter. Gingras is looking for his first Trot victory, while Takter, who for years couldn’t win this race, now seemingly can’t lose it. He trained last season’s winner (Nuncio), his fourth Yonkers Trot win the past six editions.

Pinkman, a 3-year-old gelding son of Explosive Matter, was second in his elimination race a week ago after getting babied around the final turn.

His chief combatant, defending New York Sire Stakes champ Crazy Wow, landed right inside at post No. 6. Crazy Wow defeated Pinkman by a length a week ago in 1:55.4. George Brennan gets the finale assignment for trainer Ron Burke, whose other entrant, Habitat (Brian Sears, post 2) won last week’s second elim (1:55.3) with Gingras doing the honors.    

The field for Yonkers Trot No. 61…1-Buen Camino (Trond Smedshammer), 2-French Laundry (Sears also listed), 3-Southwind Mozart (Ake Svanstedt), 4-Billy Flynn (Jason Bartlett), 5-Habitat (Sears), 6-Crazy Wow (Brennan), 7-Pinkman (Gingras), 8-Workout Wonder (Dube).

Note French Laundry and Pinkman coupled, as are Habitat and Crazy Wow.

Dealt a Winner, he of the 26-1 upset in the Cane Pace, drew post No. 5 in the Messenger Stakes. The 3-year-old Cam’s Card Shark gelding is trained by Mark Silva for owner Jeff Snyder.

He’s partnered Saturday with Rock N’ Roll World (Dube, post 6). Adios winner Dude’s the Man (Brennan) starts from the pylons here, with Art Rooney Pace champ In the Arsenal (Sears) landing the three-hole.

The entire Messenger field is as such…

1-Dude’s the Man (Brennan), 2-Revenge Shark (Gingras), 3-In the Arsenal (Sears), 4-Roland N Rock (Dube also listed), 5-Dealt a Winner (Bartlett), 6-Rock N’ Roll World (Dube), 7-Rollin’ Ring Afire (Tim Tetrick), 8-National Seelster (Eric Carlson).

Program changes are scheduled to be made Wednesday morning