Yonkers, NY --- Yonkers Raceway Thursday night (Aug. 17) played host to the $156,000 New York Sire Stakes Clyde Hirt Pace for 2-year-old fillies. Three divisions, worth $52,000 each, went postward.
The opening event saw 3-10 favorite Youaremycandygirl (Yannick Gingras) brush to the lead around second choice Alexis Faith (Jim Morrill Jr.). The leader then set intervals of :28, 57.3 and 1:27.1, only to fold off the final turn.
Alexis Faith ($8.40), from post position No. 2, ducked inside, defeating a second-over, 32-1 Line Dancer (Brett Miller) by a half-length in 1:55.3. Sand Artist was a first-up third, while odds-on Youaremycandygirl faded to fifth among the half-dozen.
Alexis Faith, a daughter of American Ideal-Cannae Cammie, co-owned by West Wins Stable, Jim Fielding, J. Robert Darrow and Kevin McKinney, remains perfect (five-for-five) to begin her career. The exacta paid $160.50, with the triple returning $820.
The second sire stakes grouping was won by second choice All On Top Hanover (Andy Miller, $6.40). Pocketed -- after a retake -- from post No. 6, she pulled early against that stubborn foe, even-money choice Python Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett).
Rebuffed once through intervals of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:26, All On Top Hanover did eventually prevail, besting her rival by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. American Myth (Brett Miller) was a loose-pocket third.
All On Top Hanover, a Betterthancheddar-Allamerican Apex miss co-owned by trainer Erv Miller, Crawford Racing, Ronald Michelon and George Golemes, is now three-for-six this season. The exacta paid $21.20, with the triple returning $123.
The final sire stakes grouping saw no one able to get Hurrikane Shorty (Bartlett, $2.50). With no anxious moments from the pole, the 1-4 choice won by a comfortable length (:28.3, :58.1, 1:27.2, 1:55.4). Betterthangraduate (Matt Kakaley) chased from the pocket and held second, with Azreal As It Gets (Brian Sears) a closing third.
For Hurricane Shorty, a daughter of Art Major-Speed Date trained by Kevin McDermott for co-owners Little E LLC, Jason Settlemoir, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz, it was her third win in five first-season tries. The exacta paid $8, with the triple returning $28.20.