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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday night (June 23) hosted the $218,200 New York Sire Stakes New Rochelle Trot for 3-year-old fillies.

Brandnewgirlfriend won the evening’s third ($43,960) division — first wagering group — with her fourth consecutive victory, third in a row in NYSS competition and second successive win here.

Mike Lizzi photo

Brandnewgirlfriend won her NYSS split in 1:59.4 for driver Boone Mattison.

The daughter of Conway Hall drew the pole and inherited the lead when Social Butterfly (Ray Schnittker) and The Ice Queen (Trond Smedshammer) both misbehaved early. From there, Brandnewgirlfriend and driver Boone Mattison had no problem keeping pocket-sitter — and defending NYSS champ — She’s So Savvy (Howard Okusko, Jr.) at bay. Fractions of :30, 1:01.2 and 1:31.2 gave the 2-5 choice two lengths to play with turning for home. She maintained that margin to the wire in 1:59.4, with Contag Way (John Stark, Jr.) third, beaten 5-1/2 lengths.

Brandnewgirlfriend, co-owned by trainer Paul Kelley, Jim Winske, Stephen Michaels and East Pond Stable, returned $2.90 for her sixth win in seven seasonal starts. The lass, now with seasonal stash of a bit more than $68,000, led a $4.50 exacta and $18.40 triple.

“She’s done pretty much everything we’ve asked from her,” Kelley said. “She had trained down to about 2:15 last season, but wasn’t physically mature enough, so we quit with her.

“I had a bunch down at Spring Garden Ranch (DeLeon Spings, Fla.) over the winter, and my second trainer, Kevin Constantine, did a very good job with her. When we brought her back, we put the hobbles on. She made a break in a qualifier when some dirt flew up and hit her.

“Except for that, she’s been on schedule and right there all season. Boone is my second trainer up here, and he knows her as well as I do.

“We paid $80,000 (for Brandnewgirlfriend), so technically, we’re not out of the hole,” Kelley said. “But I’m happy with the results.”

After all, she is paying her way.

Tuesday night’s other NYSS events, worth $42,360, $43,960, $43,960 and $43,960, were won by:

• Michelle’s Way (by Conway Hall); owner Marcos Ameralis/trainer Ken Rucker/driver Brent Holland; 1:58.3/non-bettor;
• Serene Yankee (by Conway Hall); owner Rodney Mitchell Inc./trainer Julie Miller/driver Andy Miller; (life-best) 2:00/non-bettor;
• Big Sky Angelina (by Malabar Man); owner Domenico Costagliola/trainer Chris Marino/driver Jim Meittinis; (life-best) 1:59.2/41;
• Up In Class (by Conway Hall); co-owners Scuderia O M Srl and Scuderia Gardesana Srl/trainer Jan Johnson/driver Jeff Gregory; (life-best) 2:01/$12.

New York Sire Stakes continue on Friday night (June 26) with the $215,464 Armand Palatucci Trot for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings (races five, six, eight and nine). It’s the last local statebred visit until mid-July.