Hay Goodlooking wins NYSS, NA Cup bound

June 13, 2009

Last season, Hey Goodlooking threw down the gauntlet as the state's best freshman pacing colt, and this season he hasn't lost a step, and appears poised for a start in the North America Cup after a 1:54.1 win in New York Sire Stakes action Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Hay Goodlooking iwas the fastest--and gutsiest--of the six divisions which comprised the $220,052 New York Sire Stakes Hugh Grant Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Back for the first time since winning last September's $175,000 state-bred final in a track-record (1:54) performance, the Art Major colt is trained and driven by Gates Brunet.

Brunet sent Hay Goodlooking postward as the 3-5 choice from post position number two and played leapfrog on the lead with Civil Yankee (Jeff Gregory) through a .:27.4 opening quarter-mile. The favorite found a ::56.3 intermission, then had company.

Diamond Stick Pin (Howard Okusko Jr.) stormed the castle, going full throttle after the leader before and after a 1:25.2 three-quarters. The challenger stuffed a short head in front turning for home, but Hay Goodlooking wasn't about to toss in the towel. He was both resurgent and stubborn, winning by a neck.

"He's a big horse with a big gait, and it's not always the easiest thing getting him around the (half-mile tracks),:" Brunet said. "His equipment has to be just right. I was hoping to get a breather once I made the lead, but I couldn't.

"He's eligible to the North America Cup, and we decided to wait until he raced and came back tonight before making a decision," Brunet said. "We really wouldn't be missing that much (in NYSS), and I think he's earned that chance."

For Hay Goodlooking, co-owned by Deborah Brunet, Samuel Dotro and Thoedore Gewertz, he paid $3.20 for his third win in four seasonal starts (9-for-13 career, earnings approaching $240,000). He led a $9.20 exacta and $22.60 triple.

Two races after Hay Goodlooking, Handsome Harry (Bartlett, $2.30) made a sire stakes splash in his state-bred debut. After four consecutive romps in Tioga overnights, the Dream Away colt blew away his NYSS rivals, winning a $37,142 event by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:54.4. Mark Ford trains for co-owners Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle.

Friday night's other Grant groupings, worth $37,142, $36,442, $36,442 and $36,442, respectively, went to:

Outa My Head (by Bettor's Delght); co-owners (trainer) Paul Kelley Racing,Higgins,Donovan/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:55;

Spacehill (by Space Shuttle); co-owners Burke Racing,Collins,Hill,Weaver Bruscemi//trainer Ron Burke/driver Greg Grismore; 1:55.3;

My Last Laugh (by Sealed N Delivered); co-owners Mathias Meinzinger & Jerry Silva/trainer-driver Ray Schnittker; (life-best) 1:54.2;

Where's Waldo,g (by Bettor's Delight); owner Ken Jacobs/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Stephane Bouchard; (life-best) 1:54.2. (Yonkers Raceway)

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