White Plains Trot at Yonkers

The New York Sire Stakes caravan grabbed their E-ZPass toll tags and went downstate for the first time this season, with Yonkers Raceway hosting Monday night's $281,844 White Plains Trot.

Six divisions of 3-year-old colts and gelding went at it, and Jeff Gregory threw down the evening's two fastest gauntlets with A Megabuck (1:58)  and Blacktuxwhitesocks (1:58.1).

A Megabuck--who raced in the county fairs as a 2-year-old and overcame an early break to win an overnight race here 12 nights ago (life-best 1:57.1)--made his first sire stakes event count. Eased away fourth from the gate in the final ($46,674) group, he watched as 4-5 choice Shaq is Back (Ray Schnittker) work through fractions of  :28.4, :59 and 1:28.1. A Megabuck methodically moved first-up, eventually seizing the lead early stretch. He defeated "Shaq" by 2 1/2 widening lengths, with Azad Boko (Jordan Stratton) third.

A Megabuck, a Dream Vacation gelding trained by Melissa Beckwith for owner Ira Kristel, returned $4.70 (second choice) for his fourth win in five  seasonal starts.

"Last week, I don't think I timed the gate well, and he broke,"  Gregory said. "When I able to get him going, he was super (last quarter :28.3).

"Tonight, he was a lot smoother getting out of there, and he just kept at it. I'm very happy to win a race like this for my friends, the Beckwiths."  

Blacktuxwhitesocks, last season's frosh divisional champ, gave nothing else a chance in the $46,674 second event. He beat the gate and his six rivals with intervals of :28.4, 59.1 and 1:27.4. That gave him a dozen-length lead turning for home before hitting the line up by nine.

Whata Winnner (Jim Doherty), the 2-5 favorite, chased from the loosest of pockets, while Carbon Footprint (Brent Holland) was third.

The son of Credit Winner returned $7.60 (second choice) for his first win in three '10 tries. Jessica Okusko trained for Purple Haze Stables.

"He's just a very talented horse," Gregory said. "I told Howie (Okusko) that he does the dirty work with this colt to get him ready and I see him at  his best. He's bigger than last season, but gets around Yonkers great. I just let him roll."

Monday night's other NYSS groupings, worth $47,574, $47,574, $46,674 and  $46,674, respectively, were won by...

--Captain Sully (by Conway Hall); owner Stable 45/traienr Mark Harder/driver Pat Berry; 2:00.2/$6.70;
       
--Stimulus (by Credit Winner); co-owners C.Takter,J.Fielding,Falkbolagen Ab//trainer Jimmy Takter/driver Dan Dube; 1:59.4/$3.50;

--Aruba Vacation (by Dream Vacation); owner Howard Stables/trainer Guy Howard/driver Fern Paquet Jr.; 1:59.3/$8.30;

--Carnegie (by Conway Hall); owner-trainer Kathleen LaMontagne/driver Stephane Bouchard; 2:00.1/$10.60.

Yonkers' current live racing schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) remains in effect, with first post at 7:10 PM.  Evening  simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule. Thursday afternoon simulcasting ends at  approximately 5:30 PM.

Please be advised the post positions shall be drawn Tuesday for Saturday's $250,000 Art Rooney Pace and $150,000 Lismore Pace. The races are also part of the Raceway's free, family-friendly Summer Festival, which begins on the track apron at 6 PM. (Yonkers)