Statebreds shine at Yonkers

Friday night found Yonkers Raceway rolling out the rookies in the form of the $181,808 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cohen Trot for 2-year-old fillies. Four divisions went for $45,452 each.

The first event saw favorite Madam Hooch (Mike Simons) control from the pole en route to a handy victory. The daughter of Credit Winner put up unpressured intervals of :30, 1:00.1 and 1:30.3. She had more than four lengths to play with turning for home before disposing of Munis Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker) by 4-3/4 lengths in 2:01. Kashmir AS (Stephane Bouchard) was just about seven lengths farther back in third.

Madam Hooch, trained by Fred Grant for owner Russell Williams, paid $3.50 for her fourth win (along with three seconds) in seven first-season starts. The exacta paid $17, with the triple returning $150.50.

Shamelessly hogging the face time, Simons doubled his driving pleasure in the second division. He brushed Connie to the lead around Sparkle Hill (Bouchard) passing the half, and the Conway Hall lass finished it from there. Connie defeated that 7-5 choice by a length for a maiden-breaking 2:03.1 victory. Upside Blue Chip (Phil Fluet) was third.

Connie, trained by Peter Foley for co-owners Eugene Oldford, Stephen Oldford and Mitchell Walker, returned $13.20 (fourth choice) for that first win in a half-dozen seasonal starts.

Friday night's other NYSS divisions were won by:

    * Sweetspellosuccess (by Credit Winner); co-owners American Viking Racing Stable, Rojan Stable, Gewertz and Feldman/trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer; (life-best) 2:04.2/$3.80;
    * Tuesdays With Mom (by Credit Winner); owner-trainer Peter Arrigenna/driver Jeff Gregory; 2:02/$3.90.

This statebred event honors the memory of the former publicity director at the Raceway as well as NBC Sports. As is their custom, many family members and friends came out for the occasion.

Friday night's $50,000 Open Handicaps -- Trot and Filly and Mare Pace -- were won by Shutter Boy (Yannick Gingras, $6.80) in 1:56.4 and Still Electric (Jason Bartlett, $17.60) in 1:54.

Saturday night offers eliminations for Yonkers Raceway's premier trotting events, the 55th Yonkers Trot and the Hudson Filly. The Trot pares 14 down to a final eight with a pair of $40,000 elims (races eight and nine), while the Hudson's 11 fillies go after eight berths in the final with two, $20,000 trials (races four and six). Their respective finals go a week from Saturday night (Aug. 29), with purses of $670,774 (Yonkers) and $327,985 (Hudson). (Yonkers)

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