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

Yonkers, NY — It was as advertised Monday night (July 16), with Yonkers Raceway offering the $338,304 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace.

Standout 3-year-old fillies Handsoffsmycookie (Tim Tetrick) and Romantic Moment (Yannick Gingras) stood out, each finding minimal resistance in their respective $84,951 divisions.

Mike Lizzi photo

Handsoffmycookie was a 1:53 winner for Tim Tetrick.

Handsoffmycookie, right up there with death and taxes, made it 6-for-6 lifetime locally. Leaving from post position four, the 1-20 proposition made the lead around pole-sitting New York Kitty (George Brennan) just after a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

From there, intervals of 56.3, 1:24.4 and 1:53 had her three lengths to the good at the wire. New York Kitty saved second over a rallying Ryder Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett).

Handsoffmycookie, a daughter of Art Major owned by JFE Enterprises and trained by Scott DiDomenico. returned the lawful-minimum $2.10 for her third win in five seasonal starts (12-for-17 lifetime with earnings of more $780,000). The exacta paid $3.20, with the triple returning $9.10.

Romantic Moment ($2.30) went down the road (:28, :56.4, 1:25.2, 1:53.3) in the final grouping, holding Eightunrdolarbill (Brennan) at hoof’s length by three-quarters of a length. Ramalama (Eric Goodell) was third.

Romantic Moment, an American Ideal lass owned by Brittany Farms and trained by Jimmy Takter, is 4-for-6 this season with earnings in excess of $290,000 (board-placed in 11 of her 12 career starts). The exacta paid $3, with the triple returning $10.

Monday’s other Hamilton hi-jinx, worth $84,591 and $83,451, respectively, were won by:

• Zellweger Bluechip (by American Ideal); co-owners West Wins Stable, Good Times Stables, Joseph LaCova, John Campagnuolo/trainer Casie Coleman/driver Brennan; (life-best) 1:54.1/$8.40
• Hearts N Flowers (by Artiscape); owner Bay Pond Racing Stable/trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman/driver Jeff Gregory; (life-best) 1:55.3/$37.80

Monday’s events honored the memory of the former Executive Secretary of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York, an instrumental figure in the tremendous success of the statebred program. Hamilton’s family was on hand to make the winner’s circle presentations.