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

Yonkers, NY — Driver Jim Morrill Jr. won both of Yonkers Raceway’s $225,000 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cipriani trots on Monday night (July 14).

Market Rally won the first division in a time of 1:59.4.

Morrill won the $111,500 first very wet event for 3-year-old fillies with defending statebred champ Market Rally ($2.20). The odds-on favorite had to work first-up to dispose of pace-setting Lady With Credit (Trond Smedshammer) before opening up down the backside.

Market Rally opened five lengths into the lane before whipping Glowngold (Brian Sears) by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:59.4. Third went to 59-1 outsider Cutup Hanover (Jeff Gregory).

Market Rally, a daughter of Cash Hall, is three-for-five this season (three-for-three since adding Lasix) for co-owners Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, Weaver Bruscemi and The Panhellenic Stable. Ron Burke is the trainer. The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $6, with the triple returning $84.

Mayra Escamilla photos

L Dee’s Scripture eased past Driving Miss Crazy, winning the second split by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.1.

Morrill and 17-1 L Dee’s Scripture ($37.20) avoided all the happenstance in the equally-moist $113,500 second event. The pair sat pocketed to Driving Miss Crazy (Gates Brunet) in what turned out to be a two-speed, outside-post number.

L Dee’s Scripture eased past Driving Miss Crazy, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.1. Maud Blue Chip (Sears) was third, back another two lengths. Four of the five remaining lasses — including 9-10 favorite Avalicious (Yannick Gingras) — either broke or caused a rival to do the same.

Fifth choice L Dee’s Scripture, a Credit Winner lass co-owned by Lawrence Dumain and Carlo Lattinelli and trained by Julie Miller, won for the first time in five ’14 starts. The exacta paid $845, with the triple returning $3,885.

New York Sire Stakes continue Thursday night, with the $221,000 Armand Palatucci Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings. A trio of groupings — purses of $72,800, $74,100 and $74,100 — go as races one, four and nine.