Blue York Yankee, Share The Delight victorious

Peter Haughton Memorial winner Blue York Yankee made his 3-year-old debut in a qualifier Thursday morning at the Meadowlands, and came away with a 1:55.4 victory, which is 2 and 2/5 seconds faster than his freshman record set in the Haughton final last August, the last time he raced.

Trainer Trond Smedshammer was in the bike as the Muscles Yankee colt took the lead after an opening quarter in :28.4 and then set fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.2 before coming home with a last panel in :29.2 to win by a head over Ace High Hall and John Campbell.

Ten of the 14 qualifiers were for three year olds of both sexs and gait. In a 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, New York Sire Stakes standout Share The Delight (Bettor’s Delight), with Campbell driving,  was a 1:52.4 wire-to-wire winner over Bluegrass Stakes winner Genuwine and Andy Miller by 1 1/2 lengths. New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Duneside Perch finished sixth in the mile.

In the final qualifier of the morning, Creamy Mimi (Conway Hall) and Smedshammer nosed out Share The Promise and Mike Lachance in 1:59.4. Last year Creamy Mimi listed the American National and the Kentuckiana Farm stakes among her three wins in just four starts.

Moon Beam, the Dragon Again colt who was the runner-up in both the Woodrow Wilson and Metro Stakes and then sold for $750,000 at the Tattersalls January Select Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands, also made his first appearance of the year, but finished last in a six-horse field topped by Fox Stakes winner Lonestar Legend in 1:52.

Among the 4 year olds who won qualifiers was lat year’s Nat Ray champion Corleone Kosmos (SJ’s Photo), who scored in 1:53.4, with a last quarter in :26.4 for Campbell. In a 4-year-old pace, Friday Nite Lights was a six-length winner over Always A Virgin in 1:53.3.

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