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

YONKERS, NY – The New York Sire Stakes made its first seasonal sojourn to Yonkers Raceway Friday night, and things were far from elementary in the Watson.

The $294,406 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies went in five divisions, four at $59,101 a pop, while the other was worth $58,001.

Strange things, indeed, were happening in the final turn during the first three sire stakes events, with two ladies snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and a “house horse” winning seemingly in spite of herself.

Lislea Phia, owned by Yonkers’ president Tim Rooney, authored a 25-1 shocker in the evening’s first NYSS event. With Jim Morrill Jr. driving for trainer Harry Harvey, the Lislea lass pulled first-up from fourth down the backside the second time. Lislea Phia went up and just about over prohibitive (as in 15 cents on the dollar) favorite Paula’s Best (Eric Goodell).when she broke entering the fourth bend.

However, Morrill was able to right the ship and Lislea Phia, despite taking the wide stretch route, measured it off by a half-length in 1:56.4. Paula’s Best, off 26 days since winning the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga, was second, with Dannie In Diamonds (Tony Morgan) third.

Lislea Phia returned $52.50 for her second win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $116.50, with the triple good for $576.

“She just sort of became fumbly for a few steps,” Morrill said, “but in the two starts I’ve driven her, she looks like she wants to be a racehorse.

“No pressure driving for the boss, though.”

Morrill had considerably less angst with odds-on choice Apple Delight, who won going away in 1:56.1…last half 56 seconds flat. The Bettor’s Delight miss left alertly from the pole, and then gave up her seat at the intermission to Pancleefandarpels (Tim Tetrick).

That filly tried to lose the rest of her rivals with a quick third quarter, but Apple Delight was never out of range. She eased from the pocket to win by 2 1/4 lengths, with The Isle of Pan (Morgan) another five lengths back in third.

“I really wanted her to settle in behind someone,” Morrill said. “I think she’s better that way, so I was going to let Tim’s filly go.”

Apple Delight was unraced as a frosh for Canadian co-owners Common Sense Stable & Gregory Martin and trainer William Companion. She returned $3.10 for her third win in four ’07 tries, leading a $4.60 exacta and $16.20 (three wagering choices) triple.

Like Morrill, Yonkers’ leading driver Stephane Bouchard grabbed a double shot of NYSS glory, though both in most unexpected ways.

He was minding his business with pocket-sitting Button Road when 2-5 favorite Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) was anything but. That filly jumped on an open lead turning for home, and Button Road out gamed the horse on her back, JK Let It Ride (Greg Grismore), by a neck in a life-best 1:57.4. Whelan Reba (Morgan) was third at 47-1.

Button Road, a daughter of The Firepan, paid $18 in winning her seasonal debut off three qualifiers. Bob Bencal trained the victress for Little E LLC. The exacta paid $123.50, the triple returned $740 and the superfecta was good for a very good $3,012.

Bouchard continued his performance as harness racing’s version of Lou Gehrig. He was the luckiest man on the face of the earth–again–when Linnea Blue Chip.was placed first.

Yet another short-priced fave–this one 7-10 Yankee Lacey (Pat Berry)–failed to properly negotiate her final turn. Berry did get his date back pacing and the pair crossed the line first (in 1:59.2), but “Lacey” was set down to sixth for bothering trailing horses.

That left “Linnea,” another Bettor’s Delight damsel, to grab the gusto. She photoed 36-1 Princess Grenada (Grismore), with Sky Queen (Morrill Jr.) moved from fourth to third.

Linnea Blue Chip, co-owned by Slo-Down Stable, Jacobs, Namiotka & Tancredi and trained by Sam Serriani, returned $6 for her third win in eight seasonal tries. The exacta paid $132.50, while the triple was worth $312.

“In both races, I saw the fillies ahead of me take bad steps,” Bouchard said.. “I was just fortunate to be close enough to have a chance to win.”

The night’s final NYSS event went to people’s choice, J K Pure Pearl (Tetrick), who won by 3-1/2 easy lengths in 1:58.1. This daughter of Bettor’s Delight was trained by Linda Toscano for co-owners 3 Brothers Stable, Camelot Stable and William Jacobowitz.

“Linda (Toscano) told me to pretty much drive her any way I wanted,” Tetrick said. “She looked as good as anyone in there, and she was.” Hanna’s Delight (Morgan) rallied for second at 37-1 with Ubetterthibnk Think (Morrill Jr.) third.

J K Pure Pearl’s first win in four ’07 efforts (all in-the-money) was worth $3.20 to the chalky crowd. The exacta paid $52.50, with the triple returning $143.50.

Friday night’s pair of $35,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, went to Woody Woodrow (Jack Baggitt Jr.) and Percee Angus (Grismore), respectively.

The former blitzed his seven inside rivals in 1:56.1, winning by more than six lengths at a $9 mutuel. The latter, now 10-for-19 this season, went the distance in 1:54.4 as the second ($5.80) choice.

The multi-million-dollar New York Sire Stakes traverse the state, culminated by the $1.2 million New York Night of Champions here Saturday, Sept.15, featuring eight, $150,000 divisional finals. Please visit www.nysirestakes.com for a complete schedule and further information.