Freshman filly pacers in NYSS action at Yonkers

Yonkers Raceway hosted the $245,456 New York Sire Stakes Clyde Hirt Pace Friday night, eith eight divisions of fillies going postward.

 

The so-far-misnamed Drop the Ball (Jim Morrill Jr., four NYSS winners) made it three for three to begin her career, easily winning the $30,157 second  division in 1:57.4.

 

In no hurry early--as is her custom--the 1-20 favorite was away third before taking over after the :29.4 opening quarter-mile   From there, soft  intervals of 1:00 and 1:29.2 led to a :28.2 kicker for a two-length win. Ladystar (Cat Manzi) and One Night (Pat Lachance), second- and third choices, finished second and third. 

 

Drop the Ball, a homebred daughter of Western Terror owned by Bulletproof Enterprises and trained by Paul Reid, returned the legal-low $2.10. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple returning $14.40. About $120,000 of the $123,000-plus in the place pool found its way on to the nose of the winner.

 

Puny proposition JK Soundofmusic (Jason Bartlett) was an unpressured winner in the $30,757 fifth division, walking through fractions of :30, 1:00.4;  1:30 and 1:59. Alexachase (Brad Hanners) and Toy Delight (Stephane Bouchard) were the best of the rest.

 

"Soundofmusic," a daughter of Bettor's Delight trained by Linda Toscano for 3 Brothers Stables, was another $2.10 win proposition. The exacta  paid $4.10 (local season-low), with the triple returning $48.40.  Superfecta wagering was cancelled.

 

"Linda told me she was a good one (now two for two), and I was happy with her effort," Bartlett  said. "That first start over a small track is always a  concern, but she handled it."

 

Bridge-jumpers needed some counseling--and a hug--in the $30,757 fourth division, however, as Dreamland's Roxy (Jeff Gregory) took it to the house.

 

The daughter of Art Major held off a protracted bid from 1-9 My Girl's A Star (Morrill), then widened to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:56.2...matching her previous win time.

 

My Girl's A Star eventually tired and become rough in the lane, fading to third--her first defeat in four tries--behind Temptation Queen (Bouchard).

 

"Roxy," a co-owned by (trainer Joe Holloway) and Dreamland Farms, returned $29.80 for her second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $150, with the triple returning $245.50. The place prices--with $54,800 of the $56.800 wagered on My Girl's a Star--were $107.50 and  $121.50, respectively.

 

"Joe told me drive her any way I thought, but John (Campbell, who baby-raced her and drove her in her first purse try) said she's talented and drives like a stock car," Gregory said, "I beat a very good filly tonight,"

 

Friday night's other NYSS events, each worth $30,757, were won by... Winbak Corazon (by  Village Jove); co-owners (trainer/driver) Phil Fluet,Lori Fluet;Tom Vassiliou, 1:58.4/$3.40; Diana Blue Chip (by American Ideal); co-owner Scott Hay & William Sienkiewicz/trainer Ray Van Dreason/driver Morrill; (first life-win) 1:59.2/$3.60; Miss Annie J (by Bettor's Delight); owner Kenneth Jacobs/trainer Samuel Serianni/driver Morrill ; 1:56.3/$8.20; City Delight (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners Donovan and Sbrocco/trainer Paul Kelley/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:56.1/$2.60; See You at Peelers (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners Christina Takter and John & Jim Fielding/trainer Jimmy Takter/driver Morrill ;  1:57.2/$2,10. (Yonkers)