NYSS 3YO filly pace action at Yonkers

Yonkers Raceway president Tim Rooney won the first race at Yonkers Friday night, winning with his homebred filly Lislea Phia, who captured a $59,101 New York Sire Stakes division in an upset, paying $52.50.

Lislea Phia was leading at the top of the homestretch when she broke stride, but driver Jim Morrill Jr. got the filly back on stride in time to secure the win, hitting the wire in 1:56.4.

Harry Harvey trains Lislea Phia, who is a daughter of the stallion Lislea, who Rooney bred, and the Die Laughing-sired mare Cat Thief. Lislea Phia won two of eight starts as a 2 year old and had hit the board in all but two starts this year prior to Friday night.

In addition to winning the opening NYSS leg at Yonkers Friday night, Lislea Phia started an odd trend of leaders who broke stride heading out of the last turn.

In the second NYSS split, race 3 on the card, Symphony In Motion, the 3-5 betting favorite, was leading the field when she broke stride and was pulled up to last by driver Jeff Gregory. That gave the win to Button Road, who had enjoyed a two-hole trip for the last half of the mile. Button Road, a filly by The Firepan, won in 1:57.4 for trainer Bob Bencal and owner Little E LLC.

Race 4, also a NYSS division, appeared to be locked up by Yankee Lacey, the 3-5 favorite, who started from the rail and immediately took control of the race. But she also broke stride coming off the last turn and when driver Patrick Berry slowed her to get her back on gait, she interfered with the field.

Remarkably, Berry got Yankee Lacey back on stride and she dug in and put her nose on the wire first, but she was disqualified for interference, which gave the win to Linnea Blue Chip, a filly by Bettor’s Delight out of the Sonsam mare Like A Cupcake. The time of the mile was 1:59.2.

Apple Delight, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight, ended the streak of breakers by winning her NYSS split in 1:56.1, pacing her last individual half in :55 and change. Morrill also drove this winner, who is a daughter of Bettor’s Delight.

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