by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Andie Sophia (Larry Stalbaum) lasted on the lead Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $155,624 final of the Hudson Filly Trot for 3-year-olds. Normally a Yonkers Trot companion event, the Hudson was all by itself this time around.

The race took on a different script even before it started when 2-5 favorite Lady Broadway (Eric Goodell) jumped it off. With last week’s elimination winner–and the lone $15,000 supplemental entrant–out of the way, the other two ladies involved in last week’s three-way elim battle were left to decide the issue.

Andie Sophia, from post position No. 7, left around Royal Assets (Ray Schnittker), making the lead right around the 29-second opening quarter-mile.

Caneel Hall (Jordan Stratton), coupled with Royal Assets, broke early, recovered, then broke again while trying to prompt the leader. After a :58.3 half, 42-1 proposition Southwind Cocoa (Dan Dube) tried it first-up from fifth.

Meanwhile, Andie Sophia found a 1:27.3 three-quarters, taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. Royal Assets had her shot, edging out of the pocket only to miss a head in 1:55.3…the fastest edition of the Hudson held here.

Southwind Cocoa was a credible third, beaten 3-1/2 lengths, with Cha Cha Magic (Jason Bartlett) and Time To Kill (Jim Pantaleano) completing the cashers. Rounding out the order were Global Beauty (Jeff Gregory) and the misbehaving misses, Caneel Hall and Lady Broadway.

For Andie Sophia, a Kentucky Sire Stakes champion daughter of Like a Prayer co-owned by (trainer) Rob Harmon, Adam Friedland and Comfortably Numb Stable, she returned $8.50 (second choice) for her second win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $23.20, with the triple returning $224.50. The $77,000-plus payday pushed her lifetime earning over $263,000.

“She did it all on her own,” Stalbaum said. “Last week (elim), when she draw in the second tier, I had to wait, but tonight, I asked her for early speed and she was sharp. I knew Ray’s filly was in behind and I tried to back into her as much as I could. When she came at me, I wasn’t sure I’d have enough, but my horse just kept at it.”

Saturday’s $46,000 Open Pace was won by Stalbaum and a down-the-road Great Vintage ($3.80), who prevailed from post No. 2 in snazzy 1:51.

New York Sire Stakes return Monday night, with Yonkers hosting the $358,857 Mike Cipriani Trot for 3-year-old fillies.