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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway hosted the $163,874 New York Sire Stakes Dick McGuire Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Monday (Aug. 10).

The event, honoring the memory of a popular New York Knickerbocker (and avid horseplayer), produced a pair of popular pari-mutuel winners, with members of the McGuire family making the presentations.

Mike Lizzi photo

Crazy Wow and Yannick Gingras won the first division in 1:56.

The opening $81,187 division was, in the words of driver Yannick Gingras, “a walk in the park” for Crazy Wow ($2.10). Leaving from post position No. 2, last season’s statebred frosh champ stuffed second choice Apostle’s Creed (Dan Dube) in behind, then waltzed through intervals of :28.3, :57.3, 1:27 and 1:56. The final margin was five lengths, with Maestro Blue Chip (Trond Smedshammer) closing for second and Apostle’s Creed third.

For Crazy Wow, a son of Crazed trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents Stables, JT45, J&T Silva Stables and Deo Volente Farms, it was his fourth win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $15.20, with triple wagering cancelled due to the short five-horse field.

Monday night’s second $82,687 event saw Smedshammer and Buen Camino ($3.20) also run away and hide. In play from post No. 6, he worked around Royal Deceptor (Mickey McGivern), with subsections of :29.1, :59, 1:28.3 and 1:56.2. This margin was four lengths, with Home’n Dry (Brian Sears) snapping Royal Deceptor for second.

Buen Camino, a Cash Hall gelding trained by his driver for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC, is now two-for-five this season. The exacta paid $27.20, with the triple returning $66.50.

“He’s been battling sickness for a while, but as long as he can stay away from Habitat and Crazy Wow, he can go with the rest of them,” Smedshammer said.