by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Monday night (August 23) offered the first local look at the Empire’s freshman fillies, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $233,675 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cohen Trot.

A pair of off-card events featured a pair of on-form young ladies.

Tom Berg photo

Jezzy remained unbeaten with a 2:01.2 score on Monday.

Jezzy (Ray Schnittker) remained perfect in the $46,195 opener, defeating Oakiedokie Hanover (Yannick Gingras) by 3-3/4 lengths in a leasurely 2:01.2, with Stueben Loretta (Claude Huckabone, Jr.) third.

Jezzy, a daugher of Credit Winner trained by co-owner Schnittker for Jeff Gural (breeder as Little E LLC), Ted Gewertz and Jerry Silva, is now 7-for-7 with earnings in excess of $131,000.

The second non-bettor, also worth $46,195, saw Some Girls (Gates Brunet) roll to a sixth win in seven freshman tries. She disposed of Tap Tap Dance (Dan Daley) by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1, with Miss Sue V (Brian Mattison) third.

Some Girls, a Conway Hall lass trained by Brunet for himself, Jean Brunet, Gewertz and Michael Rosenthal, has baanked more than $102,000 this summer.

The first NYSS wagering division ($47,095) was won by Conwayslassie (Jim Morrill, Jr.), who inherited the pocket before the half, then inhaled 1-2 favorite Epona Blue Chip (Schnittker) in the lane for her maiden victory. She won by a measured three-quarters of a length in 2:01.2. Cash On The Rail (Cat Manzi) was third.

Conwayslassie, a Conway Hall miss trained by Ken Rucker for D’Elegance Stable IX, L P Stable and Carmen Iannacone, returned $11.80 (second choice) for that first win in six tries. The exacta paid $36.80, with the triple returning $297.50.

“She really wanted to trot,” Morrill said. “I used her early for position, then was able to get lucky and get in behind Ray. I asked her early (in the final turn), and I was impressed.”

The correctly-named — and odds-on — Refuse To Lose (Manzi) handled her business in the fourth ($47,095) statebred event, beating Sweet Possession (Schnittker) by a couple of lengths in 2:01.3. Em El Cash (Morrill Jr.) was the only other lass in the same zip code.

Refuse To Lose returned to NYSS compettion after a fourth-place finish in the $437,000 final of the Merrie Annabelle. The daughter of Conway Hall, co-owned by Gewertz and trainer George Teague, returned $2.90 for for her second win in five tries. The exacta paid $5.60, with the triple returning $24.80.

“You’re always concerned when they come back to the small track, but she was good enough to beat these,” Manzi said. “She won when she wasn’t at her best, and that’s the sign of a talented horse.”

Monday night’s final NYSS event ($47,095) was a break-fest won by 30-1 Ms Tiffany Trooper (catch-driver Jason Bartlett) in 2:02.1. It was the first career board finish for the dauighter of Giant Hit, owned by Katie Scott and trained by Fritz Haug. The winner led a $562 exacta (Rejoycing-Jeff Gregory) and $3,404 triple (Imageofasweetday-John Stark, Jr.).

Monday’s sire stakes event honored the memory of the former publicity director at both the Raceway and NBC Sports.

New York Sire Stakes continue here Tuesday night with the $282,050 Scarsdale Trot (3-year-old fillies) and Thursday night with the $242,228 Tuckahoe Pace (2-year-old colts/geldings).