by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Tuesday night (July 3) with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $156,900 Hugh Grant Trot for 2-year-old fillies.

Four divisions, worth $38,700, $39,400, $39,400 and $39,400, respectively, comprised the event.

Mike Lizzi photo

Winndevie was a 1:59.4 winner in the opening division.

The opening division saw a sire stakes-repeating Winndevie (Trond Smedshammer, $3.30) grind Liquorstoreblues (Jason Bartlett) into submission early in the lane. From post position No. 3, she edged away by a couple of lengths (:29.4, 1:01, 1:30.4, life-best 1:59.4). Hot Chapter (Andy Miller) extricated herself from the pocket to get second, with Liquorstoreblues fading to third. Somermusic’chapter (Dan Daley) was fourth, as the other two ladies misbehaved early.

Winndevie, a daughter of Credit Winner-Vida De Vie trained by her driver for owner Purple Haze Stables, has now won both of her career starts. The exacta paid $7.50, the triple retuned $16 and the superfecta paid $41.80.

“She is really good, gets around a half perfectly and does everything right,” Smedshammer said, adding Winndevie is only statebred-staked this season.

The evening’s second grouping had favored Safe Word (Jeff Gregory, $5.20) barely last on the lead (:30.1, 1:01.3, 1:31.3, maiden-breaking 2:00.4). From post No. 3, she held sway by a diminishing head. With Out A Doubt (Miller) sat a loose pocket, moved inside and missed. Qiss Me Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) was third, with Exotic Diamond (George Brennan) fifth-placed-fourth after another’s lane transgression.

For Safe Word, a Credit Winner-Fifty Shades miss co-owned by her driver/trainer, William Richardson, Martin Garey and Henry Wieseneck, it was her first win in a pair of career tries. The exacta paid $49, the triple retuned $214.50 and the superfecta paid $340.50.

“I really like her,” Gregory said. “She’s getting better every week.”

The evening’s third get-together saw four of the seven lasses blow up in the first turn. The two wagering choices were unscathed, however, as Quincy Blue Chip (Brian Sears, $4.30) went the distance (:31.2, 1:02.1, 1:32.2, first purse-start 2:01). From post No. 5, she worked around Sensibility (Zeron), then whipped her by 1-1/2 lengths. Hanna Dreamgirl (Tim Tetrick), one of the early jumpers, recovered well to challenge first-up. She did tire to third, however, with Pittstop Beki (Daley) fourth.

For Quincy Blue Chip, a homebred daughter of Chapter Seven-Sirenuse owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock and trained by Gareth Dowse, it was her aforementioned initial race for money. The exacta paid $12.80, the triple retuned $43.40 and the superfecta paid $399.50.

The evening’s final foray, another one dotted with dancers, authored the lone surprise. It was 19-1 Conway Kellyanne (Charlie Norris, $40.20) who finished what she started (:29.4, :58.1, 1:28.4, 1:58.1) in a night’s fastest/first career win. From post No. 6, she left around 2-5 choice Amal Hall (Miller), then rebuffed her early advances. Conway Kellyanne defeated Amal Hall by three-quarters of a length. Water Lily Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) was third, with It’s My Party (Sam Schillaci) fourth.

For fourth choice Conway Kellyanne, a daughter of Conway Hall-Pacific Centerfold trained by her driver for co-owners Carrie Norris, Acadia Farms and G&B Racing, it was her first win in two starts this season. The exacta paid $75, the triple retuned $325.50 and the superfecta paid $1,320.

“We made some changes and closed her up a bit,” Norris said. “A very nice filly.”

The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Friday’s (July 3) $162,000 Clyde Hirt Pace (2-year-old fillies).