Plebes rule in 242G NYSS Tuckahoe split

New York Sire Stakes continued a Yonkers Raceway takeover Thursday night, with the $242,228  Tuckahoe Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Four divisions--at $60,557 a pop--went postward.

Townslight Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) is a maiden no longer, winning both the draw and the first wagering division.

Pocket-protecting to Twin B Idol (George Brennan), "Townslight" watched as the leader put up intervals of :28, :58 and 1:26.3.  Bettor's Green (Jason Bartlett), 3-5 this week despite a break last week, misbehaved once again. Meanwhile, Townslight Hanover angled and snatched the leader by a neck in 1:55.3. Sir Jonathan Z Tam (Pat Lachance) was another four lengths back in third.

For "Townslight," a Bettor's Delight gelding owned by Ken Tucci and trained by Aaron Lambert, he returned $20.80 (fourth choice) for that first victory  in five tries.  the exacta paid $58, the triple returned $314, and the superfecta (Bear King [Jordan Stratton]) paid $1,857.

"He finally was able to get some luck with the post," Bouchard said. "I thought he raced well first-over last week (here in NYSS), and I figured if I could  get him close, he'd have a shot."

The evening's final Tuckahoe tap dance saw China King (Brennan) also go from pocket to pay dirt. Leaving from post position No. 5, he was first to the  lead before yielding to 11-10 choice Flipper J (Bartlett) just after a 28-second opening quarter.

After a :57.3 intermission, Sir Ziggy's Z Tam (Lachance)--hampered by the indignities of the eight-hole--began the chase from sixth. He hitched a ride when Samandar (Cat Manzi) moved from third toward the 1:27.1 three-quarters. All the while, China King seemed to be losing contact in the two-hole.

Flipper J owned a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane, but China King closed ranks, then outgamed "Ziggy" by a neck in 1:55.4. Flipper J faded to  third.

For China King, an American Ideal colt co-owned by (trainer) Mike Deters and Philip & Dana Steinberg, he returned $22.40 (fourth choice) for his  second win in six '10 tries. The exacta paid $132, with the triple returning $289.50.

"He's shown he can leave, but he was a bit hot behind the gate," Brennan said. "So, I didn't want to be right on Jason's helmet.

"This was by far the toughest division tonight, and I was very happy with the effort. He beat some good colts in here."

A pair of NYSS non-bettors were won by...

--Thomas J (by Artiscape); owner Ken Jacobs/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Bartlett; 1:55.4;
--Roadside Delight (by Bettor's Delight); owner David McDuffee/trainer Richard Norman/driver Manzi; 1:55.3.

Next week's NYSS agenda includes Monday night's $276,912 Rye Pace (3-year-old fillies), Tuesday night's $236,456 Frank Becerra Pace (2-year-old  fillies) and Friday night's Armand Palatucci Trot (3-year-old colts/geldings) with a purse TBA. (Yonkers)