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

Yonkers, NY — The U.S. Open is right around the corner and nearly right down the road. In that spirit, form held serve Friday night (Aug. 25), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $159,000 New York Sire Stakes Jim Meagher Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Three divisions—at $53,000 each—and nary one bit of suspense among ‘em.

Hitman Hill (Brett Miller, $2.20) won the second sire stakes grouping in a night’s-fastest 1:54.2. Winning the draw, he retook from longshot My Delight (Jason Bartlett), then continued on as he pleased with fractions of :28, :57.1, 1:25.2 and 1:53.2.

Hitman Hill won his second sire stakes in 1:54.2 on Friday evening at Yonkers Raceway.

Hitman Hill opened a couple of lengths turning for home before prevailing by a comfy 1-1/4 lengths. My Delight chased around the oval and saved second, with Jersey Jim (Jim Devaux) skimming the cones from last to grab third.

For Hitman Hill, an American Ideal gelding co-owned by Tom Hill & North Fork Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, he’s won all three of his career tries. The exacta paid $18.20, with the triple returning $88.50.

“He’s one of the nicest colts I’ve ever sat behind,” Miller said.

Friday’s opening statebred event had Paprike Blue Chip (Corey Callahan, $3.90)—the only entrant in the field with a sire stakes win this season—get another with fractions of :27.4, :57.1, 1:26.3 and life-best-matching 1:54.2.

From post position five, he made the lead, put away a first-up Rolling Sea (Brian Sears), then easily held off second choice Aces in Heaven (George Brennan). The final margin was 2-3/4 lengths, with Rootin’ Tootin’ (Mark MacDonald) a best-of-the-rest third.

For Paprike Blue Chip a Roll With Joe gelding, trained by John Butenschoen for co-owners Harmony Oaks & Crawford Racing and VIP Internet Stable, it was his third win in seven 2017 tries. The exacta paid $6.70, with the triple returning $14.20.

Mike Lizzi photos

Casual Cool upped his record to 4-for-5 this season.

The final Meagher subsection found Casual Cool (Bartlett, $2.50) with few impediments en route to a fourth NYSS win. From post two, he moved past Topville Olympian (Jim Morrill Jr.), then moved away with fractions of :28.1, :58.1, 1:26.4 and 1:55.

Casual Cool defeated a two-move effort by Keystone Tenacious (MacDonald) by 2-1/2 lengths, with 105-1 Major Offense (Scott Zeron) picking off the bottom of the ticket.

For Casual Cool, an American Ideal colt owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, he’s now 4-for-5 this season. The exacta paid $18.60, with the triple returning $301.50.

“He doesn’t seem to care what size track he’s at and he can race either on or off the pace,” Bartlett said. “Just a handy horse.”

The evening’s sire stakes honors the memory of the Raceway’s long-time corporate controller.

Friday night’s $50,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was also formful, as in Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton, $3.40) in 1:53.2.

Saturday evening’s (Aug. 26) program features three, $40,000 stakes eliminations, two of the 63rd Yonkers Trot and one of the 62nd Messenger Stakes.