The U-S Open is right around the corner and nearly right down the road. In that spirit, form held serve Friday night (August 25), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $159,000 New York Sire Stakes Jim Meagher Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Three divisions — at $53,000 each — and nary one bit of suspense among ‘em.
Hitman Hill (Brett Miller, $2.20) won the second Sire Stakes grouping in a night’s-fastest 1:54.2. Winning the draw, he retook from longshot My Delight (Jason Bartlett), then continued on his pleased (:28, 57.1, 1:25.2, 1:53.2).
‘Hitman’ opened a couple of lengths turning for home before prevailing by a comfy length-and-a-quarter. My Delight chased around the oval and saved second, with Jersey Jim (Jim Devaux) skimming the cones from last to grab third.
For Hitman Hill, an American Ideal gelding co-owned by Tom Hill & North Fork Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, he’s won all three of his career tries. The exacta paid $18.20, with the triple returning $88.50.
“He’s one of the nicest colts I’ve ever sat behind,” Miller said.
Friday’s opening statebred event had Paprike Blue Chip (Corey Callahan, $3.90) — the only entrant in the field with a Sire Stakes win this season — get another (:27.4, 57.1, 1:26.3, life-best-matching 1:54.2).
From post position No. 5, he made the lead, put away a first-up Rolling Sea (Brian Sears), then easily held off second-choice Aces In Heaven (George Brennan).
The final margin was two and three-quarter lengths, with Rootin Tootin (Mark MacDonald) a best-of-the-rest third.
For ‘Paprike,’ a Roll With Joe gelding, trained by John Butenschoen for co-owners Harmony Oaks & Crawford Racing and VIP Internet Stable, the win was his third in seven ’17 tries. The exacta paid $6.70, with the triple (three wagering choices in order) returning $14.20.
The final Meagher subsection found Casual Cool (Bartlett, $2.50) with few impediments en route to a fourth NYSS win. From post No. 2, he moved past Topville Olympian (Jim Morrill Jr.), then moved away (:28.1, :58.1, 1:26.4, 1:55).
Casual Cool defeated a two-move effort by Keystone Tenacious (MacDonald) by two and a half lengths, with 105-1 Major Offense (Scott Zeron) picking off the bottom of the ticket.
For Casual Cool, an American Ideal colt owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, he’s now four-for-five this season. The exacta paid $18.60, with the triple returning $301.50.
“He doesn’t seem to care what size track he’s at and he can race either on or off the pace,” Bartlett said. “Just a handy horse.”
The evening’s Sire Stakes honoured the memory of the Raceway’s long-time corporate controller.
Friday night’s $50,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was also formful, as in Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton, $3.40) in 1:53.2.
Saturday evening’s (August 26) program features three, $40,000 stakes eliminations, two of the 63rd Yonkers Trot and one of the 62nd Messenger Stakes.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)