by Frank Drucker

Yonkers, NY— Was eight really enough? Probably.

Mike Lizzi photo

Drop the Ball (Jim Morrill Jr) made it 3-for-3 to begin her career, easily winning the $30,157 second division in 1:57.4.

That was the number of Friday night frosh filly divisions, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $245,456 New York Sire Stakes Clyde Hirt Pace.

The so-far-misnamed Drop the Ball (Jim Morrill Jr., four NYSS winners) made it 3-for-3 to begin her career, easily winning the $30,157 second division in 1:57.4.

In no hurry early–as is her custom–the 1-20 favorite was away third before taking over after the :29.4 opening quarter-mile From there, soft intervals of 1:00 and 1:29.2 led to a :28.2 kicker for a two-length win.

Ladystar (Cat Manzi) and One Night (Pat Lachance), second- and third choices, finished second and third.

Drop the Ball, a homebred daughter of Western Terror owned by Bulletproof Enterprises and trained by Paul Reid, returned the legal-low $2.10. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple returning $14.40. About $120,000 of the $123,000-plus in the place pool found its way on to the nose of the winner.

Puny proposition JK Soundofmusic (Jason Bartlett) was an unpressured winner in the $30,757 fifth division, walking through fractions of :30, 1:00.4; 1:30 and 1:59. Alexachase (Brad Hanners) and Toy Delight (Stephane Bouchard) were the best of the rest.

“Soundofmusic,” a daughter of Bettor’s Delight trained by Linda Toscano for 3 Brothers Stables, was another $2.10 win proposition. The exacta paid $4.10 (local season-low), with the triple returning $48.40. Superfecta wagering was cancelled.

“Linda told me she was a good one (now 2-for-2), and I was happy with her effort,” Bartlett said. “That first start over a small track is always a concern, but she handled it.”

Bridge-jumpers needed some counseling–and a hug–in the $30,757 fourth division, however, as Dreamland’s Roxy (Jeff Gregory) took it to the house.

The daughter of Art Major held off a protracted bid from 1-9 My Girl’s a Star (Morrill Jr.), then widened to win by 2-3/4 lengths in a 1:56.2…matching her previous win time.

My Girl’s a Star eventually tired and become rough in the lane, fading to third–her first defeat in four tries–behind Temptation Queen (Bouchard).

Dreamland’s Roxy co-owned by (trainer Joe Holloway) and Dreamland Farms, returned $29.80 for her second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $150, with the triple returning $245.50. The place prices–with $54,800 of the $56.800 wagered on My Girl’s a Star–were $107.50 and $121.50, respectively.

“Joe told me drive her any way I thought, but John (Campbell, who baby-raced her and drove her in her first purse try) said she’s talented and drives like a stock car,” Gregory said, “I beat a very good filly tonight,”

Friday night’s other NYSS events, each worth $30,757, were won by…

–Winbak Corazon (by Village Jove); co-owners (trainer/driver) Phil Fluet,Lori Fluet;Tom Vassiliou, 1:58.4/$3.40;

–Diana Blue Chip (by American Ideal); co-owner Scott Hay & William Sienkiewicz/trainer Ray Van Dreason/driver Morrilll Jr.; (first life-win) 1:59.2/$3.60;

–Miss Annie J (by Bettor’s Delight); owner Kenneth Jacobs/trainer Samuel Serianni/driver Morrill Jr.; 1:56.3/$8.20;

–City Delight (by Bettor’s Delight); co-owners Donovan and Sbrocco/trainer Paul Kelley/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:56.1/$2.60;

–See You at Peelers (by Bettor’s Delight); co-owners Christina Takter and John & Jim Fielding/trainer Jimmy Takter/driver Morrill Jr; 1:57.2/$2,10.