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

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Friday night (July 6) with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $162,000 Clyde Hirt Pace for 2-year-old fillies. Three conveniently-concocted divisions, each worth $54,000, comprised the event.

Mike Lizzi photo

St Somewhere broke her maiden with a 1:54.4 score on Friday.

The opening division saw a certified eight-hole beat down administered by St Somewhere (George Brennan, $4.70). Wide early, as one would surmise from this post, St Somewhere worked around longshot Sun Viser (Dan Dube), then gave nothing else a shot (:27.2, :56.3, 1:25.2, maiden-breaking 1:54.4). The final margin was 4-3/4 lengths, with JK American Beauty (Brian Sears) arriving late for second. Slight 6-5 choice Meghan Lynn (Jason Bartlett) bid, then flattened for third, with Sun Viser fourth.

For second choice St Somewhere, a daughter of American Ideal-Somstreetsomwhere co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Phil Collura, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi, it was that first win in her second start. The exacta paid $29.60, the triple returned $70 and the superfecta paid $328.50.

“I was really impressed with her, especially since it was her first time on a half-(mile track),” Brennan said.

The evening’s second grouping had favored So Awesome (Tim Tetrick, $3.50) do her night’s work with few issues (:29.2, :59, 1:27.2, first purse-win 1:55.3). From post position No. 4, So Awesome was chased around the four turns by pole-sitting Crazy Cute (Jim Morrill Jr.), whipping that rival by 3-1/2 lengths. Who Can You Trust (Bartlett) was third, with She’s Da Boom (Jim Marohn Jr.) fourth.

For So Awesome, a So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl miss owned by William Hartt and trained by Scott DiDomenico, it was also a first win in a pair of seasonal/career tries. The exacta paid $10.40, the triple returned $110 and the superfecta paid $412.

“I like her a lot,” DiDomenico said. ”She’s really special.”

The evening’s third and final get-together was by far the strangest. Brooklyn Lilacs (Morrill Jr.), the 2-5 favorite, made the lead from post No. 6 after eschewing an early three-hole. She did so after a :28.4 opening quarter-mile. Hurrikane Norakane (Dube), the first leader from post No. 4, surrendered for the pocket as the odds-on choice found a :58.1 intermission.

Down the backside the second time, Brooklyn Lilacs appeared to get on one line as she bore out noticeably off the cones. That altered the paths of horses both behind and outside of her. She did own the lead at the 1:27.3 three-quarters and crossed the wire first by a half-length in 1:56.4. However, the judges were quick to take a look. Upon review, Brooklyn Lilacs was placed last (seventh) for essentially impeding all her rivals. That moved up Hurrikane Norkane ($12), Gia’s Surreal (Bartlett), Money Shot Hanover (Tetrick) and Eos N Rock (Marohn Jr.) to the four wagering gimmick positions.

For third choice Hurrikane Norakane, an Art Major-Western Heat miss trained by John McDermott for co-owners Jonathan Klee, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investment Group and George Vierno, it was her initial race for money. The exacta paid $175.50, the triple returned $3,440 and the superfecta paid $16,191 (base $2 payout).

Friday night’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was won by a repeating Magic Forces (Brennan, $4.70) in 1:51.3.

The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Tuesday’s (July 24) $162,000 Frank Becerra Pace (another visit by 2-year-old fillies, purse TBA).