New York Sire Stakes began a long sublet of Yonkers Raceway Tuesday night, with the $235,575 Dick McGuire Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings
Five divisions - including three off the card - were contested as the Raceway honoured the longtime New York Knick legend, Basketball Hall of Famer and devoted horseplayer.
The evening's first wagering event, worth $47,655, was won by the very consistent Evil Urges (Jimmy Whittemore), who returned to Westchester for his first visit since finishing third in our Yonkers Trot.
Away third from post position seven, Evil Urges engaged leading Petruchio (Jeff Gregory) down the backside the second time, put him away, them held Johnny B Kemp (Jimmy Takter) at bay by a neck in 1:57.4. Petruchio held third.
Evil Urges, a Cash Hall gelding co-owned by (trainer) Homer Hochstetler and Robert Buddig, returned $5.40 as the 17-10 wagering favourite for his fourth win in 10 seasonal starts.
"We haven't really seen how fast he is," Whittemore said. "We've been trying to get him to leave better, and went to an open bridle tonight. It helped, because he was much quicker off the gate."
They had no answer for odds-on Im the Answer (Trond Smedshammer, $2.40) in the final ($47,645) sire stakes event. Leaving from the pole, Im the Answer ruined any suspense, opening up six lengths in the sudden downpour by the three-quarters, before winning by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58. Bristles Winner (Brian Sears) and All in Tad (Schnittker) were second and third, respectively.
Im the Answer, a Credit Winner gelding trained by Smedshammer for Purple Haze Stables, has won five of his eight seasonal starts.
State standout - and Im The Answer stablemate - Dejarmbro (Smedshammer) couldn't have had an easier time than the did in the $46,755 third non-wagering event.
One move to the lead was all took for the defending New York Sire Stakes champ, en route to a 6-1/4 length, public workout in 1:57.2. Tropic Storm (John Wagner) chased from the loosest of pockets, with Hellogottagobuhbye (Ray Schnittker) third.
Dejarmbro, a son of Credit Winner, trained by Smedshammer for Purple Haze Stables, is now 6-for-8 this season and 14-for-19 career, with earnings in excess of $632,000.
Tuesday's other NYSS non-bettors, also worth $46,755 each, were won by Keenan (1:56.1) and Tober (1:58.2).
New York Sire Stakes continue here Thursday, with the $233.230 Rye Pace for three-year-old fillies (featuring the perfect See You at Peelers in the fifth and final division) and the $255,213 Mike Cohen Trot (two-year-old fillies). Friday, it's the $253,897 Milt Taylor Trot (two-year-old colts and geldings).
(Yonkers Raceway)