by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — With the $1.6 million New York Night of Champions looming later this momth, downstate sire stakes resumed Thursday night (Sept. 9), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $237,636 Lew Barasch Trot for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Mike Lizzi photo

Johnny B Kemp was a 2:02.1 winner for Marcus Johansson.

Johnny B Kemp and driver Marcus Johansson — showing no ill-effects of that early summer accident — took full advantage of soft fractions and soft foes. The pair went the distance in the $59,134 third division.

In play early from post position No. 4, the 3-4 choice waltzed through weigh stations of :30.3, 1:02.4, 1:32.2 and 2:02.1. He widened in the lane, defeating Sing Out (Cat Manzi) by 4-1/2 lengths, with Quantum Incredible (Frode Fladen) third.

Johnny B Kemp, a son of Credit Winner trained by Jimmy Takter for his wife, Christina, along with David McDuffee and John Fielding, returned $3.50 for his second win in five frosh tries. The exacta paid $6.90 (two wagering favorites), with the triple returning $37.40.

“He’s shown us he wants to do his job, and that’s always a good sign,” Johansson said. “Once we made the lead, there wasn’t a whole lot to it.

“I’m glad to be back in the winner’s circle, and (father-in-law) Jimmy is glad to have me back working,” Johansson said. “I think he thinks I’ve been on vacation or something.”

The evening’s final ($60,234) statebred event saw six of the eight combatants misbehave, making the job of even money favorite Dejarmbro (Jeff Gregory) that much easier.

Leaving from post No. 7 and never out of range, Dejarmbro found the lead before the three-quarters, then defeated Keenan (George Brennan) — the other non-breaker — by 8-1/4 lengths in 1:59.3. Daleydaydream (Dan Daley) was third, beaten 15 lengths.

Dejarmbro, a Credit Winner colt trained by Jessica Okusko fior Purple Haze Stables, returned $4.30 for his fifth win (fourth consecutive) in seven ’10 tries (5-for-5 with Gregory). The exacta paid $28, with the triple returning $285.50.

“He’s a strong horse, but he’s very light on his feet,” Gregory said. “He’s a lot like (stablemate) Blacktuxwhitesocks. Both are big, sturdy horses that were given time getting to the races.

“And both make me look good.”

Thursday night’s other NYSS events, each worth $59,134, were won by:

• Surface Tension (by Cash Hall); co-owners Ann-Mari Daley, Richard Lombardo and Albert Crawford/trainer-driver Dan Daley; 2:00.4/non-bettor;
• Petruchio (by Plesac); owner Richard Balog/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Jim Morrill, Jr.; 2:01.2/non-bettor.

Thursday’s sire stakes event honored the memory of one of the sport’s great publicists from one of the sport’s great eras.