by Frank Drucker

Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes continued a Yonkers Raceway takeover Thursday night, with the $242,228 Tuckahoe Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Four divisions–at $60,557 a pop–went postward.

Tom Berg photo

Townslight Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) took the first wagering division in 1:55.3.

Townslight Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) is a maiden no longer, winning both the draw and the first wagering division.

Pocket-protecting to Twin B Idol (George Brennan), Townslight Hanover watched as the leader put up intervals of :28, :58 and 1:26.3. Bettor’s Green (Jason Bartlett), 3-5 this week despite a break last week, misbehaved once again. Meanwhile, Townslight Hanover angled and snatched the leader by a neck in 1:55.3. Sir Jonathan Z Tam (Pat Lachance) was another four lengths back in third.

For Townslight Hanover, a Bettor’s Delight gelding owned by Ken Tucci and trained by Aaron Lambert, he returned $20.80 (fourth choice) for that first victory in five tries.

“He finally was able to get some luck with the post,” Bouchard said. “I thought he raced well first-over last week (here in NYSS), and I figured if I could get him close, he’d have a shot.”

The evening’s final Tuckahoe tap dance saw China King (Brennan) also go from pocket to paydirt. Leaving from post position No. 5, he was first to the lead before yielding to 11-10 choice Flipper J (Bartlett) just after a 28-second opening quarter.

After a :57.3 intermission, Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam (Lachance)–hampered by the indignities of the eight-hole–began the chase from sixth. He hitched a ride when Samandar (Cat Manzi) moved from third toward the 1:27.1 three-quarters. All the while, China King seemed to be losing contact in the two-hole.

Flipper J owned a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane, but China King closed ranks, and then outgamed Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam by a neck in 1:55.4. Flipper J faded to third.

For China King, an American Ideal colt co-owned by (trainer) Mike Deters and Philip & Dana Steinberg, he returned $22.40 (fourth choice) for his second win in six ’10 tries.

“He’s shown he can leave, but he was a bit hot behind the gate,” Brennan said. “So, I didn’t want to be right on Jason’s helmet.

“This was by far the toughest division tonight, and I was very happy with the effort. He beat some good colts in here.”

A pair of NYSS non-bettors were won by…

–Thomas J (by Artiscape); owner Ken Jacobs/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Bartlett; 1:55.4;
–Roadside Delight (by Bettor’s Delight); oowner David McDuffee/trainer Richard Norman/driver Manzi; 1:55.3.

Next week’s NYSS agenda includes Monday night’s $276,912 Rye Pace (3-year-old fillies), Tuesday night’s $236,456 Frank Becerra Pace (2-year-old fillies) and Friday night’s Armand Palatucci Trot (3-year-old colts & geldings) with a purse TBA.