by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes returned to Westchester Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $257,608 Clyde Hirt Pace for 2-year-old fillies.

Mike Lizzi photo

JK Fine Art overcame post position eight to win his division of the Clyde Hirt Pace in 1:56.2.

Six divisions of went postward, with Tim Tetrick crossing the river and doubling his pleasure.

Tetrick drove JK Fine Art (1:56.2), who overcame the eight-hole in the $43,068 final event. Two-moving to the lead, she defeated a pylon-skimming Major Look (Cat Manzi) by 4-1/2 lengths. Park Avenue Paige (George Brennan) was third.

Linda Toscano trained the homebred daughter of Art Major, co-owned by 3 Brothers Stable and William Jacobowitz. She returned $4.10 as the just-above-even-money favorite.

Tetrick also won the $43,068 fifth Hirt division with a Handsoffmycookie ($4.80) in 1:57.3. The Art Major lass, more than a bit green off the final turn, nevertheless edged past pace-setting Romantic Moment (Marcus Johansson) to win by three-quarters of a length. Hayworth Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker), the 6-5 choice, was a pocket third.

“I baby-raced her twice at the Meadowlands, and I think she can be a good one,” Tetrick said. “She has some things to learn, but she has a motor.” Handsoffmycookie is trained by Scott DiDomenico for JFE Enterprises.

The third NYSS event proved the nights fastest as Centralia Hanover (Brennan, $18.80) whipped a bothered, 2-5 choice Silk Purse (Tetrick) by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Southwind Missouri (Phil Fluet) was third. The favorite was pocketed, and then impeded, when pace-setting Arm In Arm (Manzi) made a break on the lead off the final turn.

“The report on this filly was that I was going to hate her when I warmed her up, and I did,” Brennan said. “(Trainer) Mark (Harder) said just to ease her out of the gate. I was lucky that the other horse (Silk Purse) had some issues, but mine came home very well.”

Centralia Hanover is a daughter of Art Major co-owned by Rick Phillips and W Springtime Racing.

The evening’s fourth state-bred event was a down-the-road effort by Bijou Theater (Schnittker, $8.60), prevailing by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:57.3. Our Sophia (Frank Milby) outraced her odds, chasing the winner around the oval at 47-1, with Double Major (Tetrick) third. Bijou Theater is an Art Major miss co-owned by (trainer) Schnittker, Ted Gewertz and Steven Arnold.

Thursday night’s pair of non-wagering Hirt events, worth $42,268 and $43,068, were won by:

– Scootndowntheriver (by Riverboat King); co-owners (trainer) George Teague Jr,Ted Gewertz.Fannin Racing/driver Manzi; 1:58.2;

– Another Hanover (by Art Major); co-owners Christina Takter,John Fielding,R A W Equine,Joyce McClelland/trainer Jimmy Takter/driver Johansson; 1:57.4.

New York Sire Stakes continues here Friday night, $257,257 Jim Meagher Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Saturday night, the Raceway presents its two premier trotting events of the season, the $445,474 Yonkers Trot–first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown–and the $237,714 Hudson Filly.