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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway Thursday night (May 21) hosted its first New York Sire Stakes crowd of the season, the $163,375 Michael Sorentino Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Three divisions, worth $54,125, $55,125 and $54,125, respectively, comprised the event, which honored the memory of the long-time popular horse owner (with family in attendance for winner’s circle presentations).

There’s no way to sugar coat this as chalk players were accorded the chalk outline, as all three odds-on entities failed to deliver on their puny pari-mutuel promises.

The opening event saw last season’s frosh statebred champion Crazy Wow (Yannick Gingras) — at 1-20 — jump it off in the second turn after making the lead.

Mike Lizzi photo

Royal Deceptor was a 1:58 winner in the opening NYSS division.

When the stone dust settled, it was 26-1 Royal Deceptor (Mickey McGivern, $55.50), pocketed from post position No. 3, nipping Mythology Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) by a nose in a life-best 1:58 (:29.1, :59.2, 1:28.3). Insomniac (Mark MacDonald) cut the mile and faded to third, beaten a neck. Crazy Wow finished fourth.

For third choice Royal Deceptor, a son of RC Royalty trained by Cheryl McGivern for co-owners Charles Foster, Michael James and Michael Sentiwany Jr., it was his fourth win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $150 and the triple returned $614.

“He was very good early last season, but they sort of caught up to him,” Mickey McGivern said. “He’s just a lunch pail sort of horse, keeps trying and keeps working.”

The second sire stakes grouping found 3-5 choice Habitat (Gingras), with a NYSS and Dexter Cup win already on his resume, also doing the dance of the damned. His malfeasance occurred entering the first turn. That left Military Blue (Mike Simons) leading the gang (:28.3, :58.2, 1:27.3) before his night was over.

Buen Camino (Trond Smedshammer) took over from first-over, only to get snapped on the money by 31-1 proposition Workout Wonder (Dan Dube, $65.50). Leaving from post No. 4, the margin — another nose — was in 1:56.3, far and away a career-best effort. Wings Of Royalty (Brian Sears) was third, with Apostle’s Creed (Brett Miller) fourth. Habitat was last among the seven.

For fifth choice Workout Wonder, a Conway Hall colt owned by All Laid Out Stable and trained by Ake Svanstedt, it was his first win in three ’15 tries. The exacta paid $234.50, the triple returned $743 and the superfecta paid $4,789.

The evening’s final NYSS event found 3-10 Maestro Blue Chip (Smedshammer) carrying the water for the rank and file. He disposed of Royal Becca J (Jack Parker Jr.) after that one’s early lead (:29.2, :58.2), then widened after a 1:28.2 three-quarters.

Maestro Blue Chip had three lengths in and out of the final turn, only to get that run-down feeling from The Physician (George Brennan, $15.20). The latter, from post No. 5, whipped the former by a neck in a life-best 1:58.1, with Royal Lad (Simons) third.

The Physician, a Credit Winner gelding trained by Anette Lorentzon for co-owners Acl Stuteri Ab and Kjell Johansson, is now two-for-three this season. The exacta paid $33.80, with the triple returning $107.

With longshots ruling the night in the sire stakes — comprising 60 percent of the Pick-5 races — no one took down the pool. Thus, Friday’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $4,675.35 (50 cent base wager, races seven through 11).

The Raceway’s live season continues Friday and Saturday nights (post times 7:10 p.m.), with Saturday offering a pair of $40,000 eliminations of the Art Rooney Pace. After that, it’s Monday (7:10 p.m.), Tuesday (1 p.m., finals of both Jackpot Next Door Claiming Series divisions), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 p.m.). Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs (no live racing/evening simulcasting June 3-12, inclusive). Afternoon simulcasting is available daily, including June 6 for the Belmont Stakes.