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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway on Monday night (June 24) played host to the $290,875 New York Sire Stakes Clyde Hirt Pace for 2-year-old fillies.

Five divisions — worth $58,175 each — had 34 young ladies on display, with all but one racing for purse money for the first time.

The first division saw odds-on Clara (Brian Sears, $2.90), from post position No. 5, a handy first-up victress. The Art Major-Cat Thief homebred, owned by Yonkers’ president Tim Rooney, grinded by pace-setter Hay Stacked (Ray Schnittker), then drew out by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1. Second went to a pocket-protecting It Was Fascination (Corey Callahan), with Jaded Dream (Tyler Buter) third. The exacta paid $8.50, with the triple returning $66.

Scandalicious was a 1:56.2 winner for George Brennan.

Sears was sent postward at 25 cents on the dollar with Instant Respect in the second division, but the chalk players took it on the chin here. Leading to the lane, Instant Respect faded to fourth, as 15-1 Bettor Chill Out (Jeff Gregory, $32.20), from post No. 6, outclosed 14-1 pocket-sitter Supplemental Income (Matt Kakaley), winning by a neck in 1:57. Wondering Heart (George Brennan) went last-to-third.

The winning lass is a daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Jus’ Chilln Out owned by Joseph Meaney and trained by Bruce Borden. The exacta paid $592, with the triple returning a local season-high $7,553.

Monday’s third NYSS grouping had a down-the-road Scandalicious (Brennan, $4.50) — from post No. 2 — winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2. Even-money fave Vitameatavegamin (Tim Tetrick) chased for second, with more than 10 lengths of daylight between that one and Mean Pauline (Matt Kakaley).

Scandalicious is a daughter of American Ideal-The Company Store owned by JFE Enterprises and trained by Scott DiDomenico. The exacta paid $9.10, with the triple returning $33.40.

The evening’s fourth sire stakes event again saw the second choice, Ali Blue (Sears, $4.90), picking off the people’s preference Bettor Business (Tetrick). Leaving from post No. 2, Ali Blue was pocketed to Bettor Business, then beat her by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. Third went to a first-up Expose (Callahan).

Ali Blue is an American Ideal-Mintjulep Bluechip miss trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners Christina Takter, Jim and John Fielding and RAW Equine. The exacta paid $8.20, with the triple returning $80.50.

Sean Hamrock photos

Mind Over Matter was a 1:55.1 winner in the final division.

The final NYSS grouping was won by second-choice Mind Over Matter (Tetrick, $5.50), throwing down the night’s fastest gauntlet of 1:55.1.

Sitting a three-hole — from post No. 2 — to 3-4 fave Sweet Charity (Andrew McCarthy), Mind Over Matter picked off her foe by a length. Gentlemen’s Delight (Sears), full sister to See You At Peelers, was third.

Mind Over Matter is an Art Major-Serious Comfort filly, this one a Millar Farms homebred trained by Gregg McNair. The exacta paid $9.40, with the triple returning $20.60.