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

Yonkers, NY — Last season, Hey Goodlooking threw down the gauntlet as the state’s best freshman pacing colt. This season, he hasn’t lost a step.

Hay Goodlooking invaded Yonkers Raceway again on Friday night, June 12, winning the fastest — and gutsiest — of the six divisions which comprised the $220,052 New York Sire Stakes Hugh Grant Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Back for the first time since winning last September’s $175,000 statebred final in a track record (1:54) performance, the Art Major colt won his $36,442 division in a spiffy 1:54.1.

Tom Berg photo

Hay Goodlooking held off Diamond Stick Pin by a neck in their NYSS split.

With trainer Gates Brunet doing the honors, Hay Goodlooking — sent postward as the 3-5 choice from post position two — played leapfrog on the lead with Civil Yankee (Jeff Gregory) through a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. The favorite found a :56.3 intermission, then he found some company.

Diamond Stick Pin (Howard Okusko, Jr.) stormed the castle, going full throttle after the leader before and after a 1:25.2 three-quarters. The challenger stuffed a short head in front turning for home, but Hay Goodlooking wasn’t about to toss in the towel. He was both resurgent and stubborn, winning by a neck.

“He’s a big horse with a big gait, and it’s not always the easiest thing getting him around the (half-mile tracks),” Brunet said. “His equipment has to be just right. I was hoping to get a breather once I made the lead, but I couldn’t.

“He’s eligible to the North America Cup, and we decided to wait until he raced and came back tonight before making a decision,” Brunet said. “We really wouldn’t be missing that much (in NYSS), and I think he’s earned that chance.”

Hay Goodlooking, co-owned by Deborah Brunet, Samuel Dotro and Theodore Gewertz, paid $3.20 for his third win in four seasonal starts (9-for-13 career, earnings approaching $240,000). He led a $9.20 exacta and $22.60 triple.

Two races after Hay Goodlooking, Handsome Harry (Jason Bartlett, $2.30) made a sire stakes splash in his statebred debut. After four consecutive romps in Tioga overnights, the Dream Away colt blew away his NYSS rivals, winning a $37,142 event by 9-1/2 lengths in 1:54.4. Mark Ford trains for co-owners Ralph Del Priore and Harry Doyle.

Friday night’s other Grant groupings, worth $37,142, $36,442, $36,442 and $36,442, respectively, were won by:

• Outa My Head (Bettor’s Delight); co-owners (trainer) Paul Kelley Racing, Higgins, Donovan/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:55.2/$6.20
• Spacehill (Space Shuttle); co-owners Burke Racing, Collins, Hill, Weaver Bruscemi//trainer Ron Burke/driver Greg Grismore; 1:55.3/$2.40
• My Last Laugh (Sealed N Delivered); co-owners Mathias Meinzinger and Jerry Silva/trainer-driver Ray Schnittker; (life-best) 1:54.2/$29.40
• Where’s Waldo (Bettor’s Delight); owner Ken Jacobs/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Stephane Bouchard; (life-best) 1:54.2/$5

NYSS events next week include Tuesday’s $219,000 Mike Cipirani Trot (3-year-old fillies), Thursday’s $220,224 Mount Vernon Pace (3-year-old fillies) and Friday’s White Plains Trot (3-year-old colts/geldings), which is drawn this coming Monday.

Friday night’s pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by Stonebridge Diablo (Bouchard, $18.40) in 1:57.3 and Pancleefandarpels (Jordan Stratton, $25.20) in 1:54.4.