by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes welcomed all sorts of ladies downstate Tuesday night (Aug. 7), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $166,499 Mike Cipriani Trot for 3-year-old fillies. The races again honored the memory of the Raceway’s long-time, award-winning photographer.

A five-horse, $54,833 pre-card sire stakes non-bettor was won by a stubborn, down-the-road Natalie Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr.) in 1:56.3. Soon thereafter, Mother Nature decided to chime in, with a lightning storm delaying the dossier between the first and second races.

Mike Lizzi photo

Supergirl Riley was a 1:55.2 winner in her NYSS split.

Tuesday’s $55,833 second programmed event saw pole-sitting Supergirl Riley (Marcus Miller. $10.60) retake from Ciao Dolce (Dan Dube), then dismiss 3-10 favorite Lima Novelty (Scott Zeron) en route to a handy — and sloppy — 1:55.2 effort. It was early intervals of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:27 before Supergirl Riley opened up a pair of lengths into the lane. She widened to 4-1/2 lengths at the wire, with Ciao Dolce second, Lima Novelty a tiring third and Pune Bush Rose (Jordan Stratton) fourth.

For second choice Supergirl Riley, a daughter of Muscle Mass co-owned by Paymaq Racing, George Golemes and Harvey Eisman and trained by Erv Miller, it was her first win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.20, the triple returned $84.50 and the superfecta paid $288.50.

“She’s just starting to find her stride,” Miller the driver said.

The $55,833 third and final division of the Cipriani saw defending statebred champ Lucky Ava (Dube, $3) have five outclassed rivals chasing in vain. From the pole, she retook from Mooshka Stride (Brennnan), then finished it off with no discomfort (:28.2, :59, 1:28.1, 1:56.3). The final margin over Mooshka Stride was 2-3/4 lengths, with Tribute To Seven (Zeron) a first-up third. Special Miss (Steve Smith) was fourth.

Lucky Ava, a Lucky Chucky miss co-owned by trainer Ake Svanstedt, Little E LLC and Van Camp Trotting, has five wins and three seconds in nine ’18 tries. The exacta paid $19, the triple retuned $48 and the superfecta paid $167.50.

New York Sire Stakes return here Monday night (Aug. 13) with the $157,000 Pat Quaglietta Trot for 2-year-old fillies.