by Mike Sardella

Saratoga, NY — While the New York Sire Stakes finals took place last weekend at Vernon Downs, four divisions of NY Sire Stakes Late Closers for 3-year-olds had their finals at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Saturday night.

Local filly Anikawiesahalee won the first of the four $30,000 finals on the night as the Maureen Salino trained sophomore filly picked a good time to set a lifetime mark.

Starting from the inside post, Jay Randall put Anikawiesahalee on the front end and never really faced a challenge before sprinting home in :28.4 to record the 1:59.2 win. Mystic Splendor (Howard Okusko Jr) followed the live cover of favored Steuben Paul (Jim Devaux) and tracked him down in the stretch to register a 1:58.4 win in the colt and gelding trot division.

The sophomore pacers saw Sinful Cindy and Western Wild King prevail on Saturday.

The gate speed of Sinful Cindy worked to her advantage as Greg Merton put the Art Major filly on the lead in the early stages and never looked back before stopping the timer in 1:57.

The colt division saw Western Wild King move aggressively to the lead for driver Kyle DiBenedetto and draw away late. The Theresa Bantle trained sophomore posted a 1:54.3 mile en route to securing the winner’s share of the $30,000 purse.