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

Yonkers, NY — The New York Sire Stakes returned downstate Monday night (July 28), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $226,200 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies.

The first of three $75,400 divisions took on a different look right before post time when odds-on choice Major Dancer (Brian Sears) was scratched lame. That shifted the role of (4-5) favoritism to Blush Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.).

Tom Berg photo

Delightful Dragon won her NYSS contest in a time of 1:54.1.

Blush Hanover led through fractions of :26.4, :56.3 and 1:25.1. However, with a 1-1/4 length lead entering the lane, she could not lose a pesky Delightful Dragon (David Miller).

That one, the Three Diamonds winner from a season ago, seated early from outside post position No. 7. Delightful Dragon engaged the leader in earnest in and out of the final turn before picking her off by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. A season-debuting Ali Blue (Yannick Gingras) was third.

Fourth choice Delightful Dragon, a homebred daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Little Miss Dragon owned by Adam Victor and Son Stable and trained by Noel Daley, returned $22.40 for her first win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $50.50, with the triple returning $260.

“She’s had her issues this season, but she handled the track very well,” Miller said. “Obviously, the race changed when the favorite scratched, but my filly earned it. She took a lot of air and was able to go by.”

The second NYSS event was a down-the-roader for It Was Fascination (Scott Zeron, $5.00). Leaving from post No. 2 after an inside scratch, she held sway after intervals of :28.1, :57, 1:25.3 and 1:54.2. Spreester (Morrill), the 1-2 favorite, tested the winner from the pocket, but missed by a neck, with JK Molly (George Brennan) third.

For second choice It Was Fascination, an American Ideal-On The Catwalk lass co-owned (as Alagna Racing) by trainer Tony Algana, Riverview Racing and Bay’s Stable, it was her third win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $7.10, with the triple returning $27.80.

“I would have been perfectly content sitting behind Jimmy (Morrill Jr. driving Spreester), but she left the gate on her toes, so I just drove on,” Zeron said. “I’ve driven her a few times now, and the best thing about her is she’s handy. She’s comfortable any way you want to race her.”

Monday night’s final statebred event saw a pocketed Medusa (Sears, $5.20) edge away as the 8-5 favorite.

In play from post No. 6, Medusa sat behind pole proposition Carlota Blue Chip (Brennan) as that one set sail through subsections of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1. Carlota Blue Chip opened a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane, but needed more.

Medusa angled out and went by, defeating a three hole-sitting Sky Artist (Eric Carlson) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Carlota Blue Chip held third.

Medusa Blue Chip, a Bettor’s Delight-Mythical miss owned by W J Donovan and trained by Paul Kelley, is now 7-for-11 this season (unraced at 2). The exacta paid $90.50, the triple returned $285.50 and the supefecta (Just Add Vodka-Morrill) paid $974.

“She showed she can leave the gate, and I was able to get her out of there,” Sears said. “Out of the last turn, I could see George (Brennan, driving Carlota Blue Chip) having to get after his filly, so I figured it was time to go.”

New York Sire Stakes continue Tuesday night, with the $201,600 Mike Cohen Trot (2-year-old fillies). Thursday night, it’s the $200,900 New York Sire Stakes Jim Meagher Pace (2-year-old colts/geldings).