by Frank Drucker, Yonkers Raceway Publicity Director

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes hit town Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway’s hosting the $232,330 Mount Vernon Pace for 3-year-old fillies.

Five divisions–including two off the card–were on display.

Southwind Jazmin (Jeff Gregory) turned in the night’s fastest effort, two-moving for a first-up, 1:53 victory in the $46,826 fourth division.

Southwind Jazmin, leaving outside her six rivals, found an early four-hole. She then went up and over Ms. Malicious (Cat Manzi) down the backside before ending up in the isolation booth. Southwind Jazmin widened to defeat 11-10 choice Astetria Blue Chip (Tim Tetrick) by 4-3/4 lengths, with 82-1 shot Block Party (Dan Dube) third.

For Southwind Jazmin, a daughter of Art Major owned by Rick Phillips and trained by Mark Harder, she returned $6.70 (second choice) for her fifth win in eight seasonal starts.

“She was very good last season (more than $178,000 in earnings) and they were expecting a lot from her as a 3-year-old,” Gregory said. “Drawing an outside post always makes it that much more difficult, but they went enough early that I figured they’d come back to me. (Trainer) Mark (Harder) said he’d thought she’d race well, and she couldn’t have been any better.”

Lismore victress JK Owhatanite (Tetrick, $2.60), from post position No. 7, held off a stubborn pocket-sitter in Mystical Gypsy (Greg Merton), winning the $46,826 final division by a length in 1:55 (last quarter: 27.4). Sir Jillian Z Tam (Pat Lachance) was another 6-3/4 lengths back in third.

Linda Toscano trained the 3 Brothers Stables homebred daughter of Bettor’s Delight, who’s now 6-for-8 this season with earnings in excess of $161,000.

“She’s a professional.” Toscano said. “I told Tim (Tetrick) exactly what (usual driver) Jason (Bartlett) told me, which is that she can leave the gate with anyone and she does whatever you ask her to do.”

The $46,826 third division was won by odds-on Tea Party Princess (Brian Sears), making just her second Empire State start and first on a half.

Leaving from post No. 4, she wound up first-up, grinding her way past Annie J (Tetrick), then–despite going very wide off the last turn and through the lane–holding off both that one and New Album (George Brennan). The margin over “Annie” was three-quarters of a length.

For Tea Party Princess, an Art Major miss owned by Brad Gray and trained by Ron Burke, she returned $3.90 for her fourth win in nine seasonal starts.

“She doesn’t have much experience on a small track, and it showed,” Sears said, “She started lugging in, and wasn’t the easiest to steer, but she showed me something beating two very good fillies.”

Tuesday’s pair of $45,926 non-betting NYSS events were won by…

— Alexachase (by Bettor’s Delight); co-owners Kimberley and (trainer) Johnny Waite/driver Dan Dube; 1:56.1

— From the Start (by Western Terror); owner David La Clair/trainer John Grasso/driver Jordan Stratton; (life-best) 1:54.1.