by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — The week’s downstate New York Sire Stakes agenda concluded Friday night, Sept. 3, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $282,548 Armand Palatucci Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Four divisions went postward, with Blacktuxwhitesocks (Jeff Gregory) making amends a for his mulligan of a few weeks ago.

Tom Berg photo

Blacktuxwhitesocks was a 1:56.4 winner on Friday.

Sent off at 3-10 in the first ($69,662) event, Blacktuxwhitesocks — leaving from post position No. 3 — took over from Margarita Man (Ray Schnittker) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. He then found a :57.4 half and 1:27.2 three-quarters, with Margarita Man calling it a night from the pocket.

However, the 46-1 Carbon Footprints (Brent Holland) offered an unexpected challenge, taking the vacant seat, then going after the favorite right to the line. Blacktuxwhitesocks — the defending sire stakes champ — was urged to keep his neck up front in 1:56.4. Jocular (Jason Bartlett) was another six lengths back in third.

Blacktuxwhitesocks, a son of Credit Winner trained by Jessica Okusko for Purple Haze Stables, returned $2.70 for his seventh win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44.20, with the triple returning $135.

“His last start (here two weeks ago) was the first time he didn’t give me a good effort (tiring to third),” Gregory said. “He came up sick, and I thought he was better tonight. I had to ask him late, but that was a good mile he turned in.

“I think he might be just as good chasing another horse, and in the (Sept. 25) sire stakes final, he may have to, depending on the draw.”

Friday night’s second ($70,962) statebred event went to a down-the-road Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet, Jr.), who won the draw and held off 3-4 choice Whata Winner (Jim Doherty) by a neck in 1:58.1 (:57.3 back half). Strong Hope (Eric Goodell) was a first-up third, beaten 4-1/4 lengths.

Aruba Vacation, a Dream Vacation gelding owned and trained by Guy Howard, returned $5.70 (second choice) for his eighth win in 11 ’10 tries. The exacta paid $10.60, with the triple returning $37.20.

“He’s quietly having a very good season,” Paquet said. “I figure it was either going to be me or Jimmy (Doherty) on the lead, and I would have been happy to sit behind him. When he didn’t try to retake and I was able to get a cheap half (1:00.3), that definitely helped.”

Friday night’s other NYSS events, each worth $70,692, were won by:

• Winning Fireworks (by Credit Winner); co-owners Adam Victor & Son Stable and Lindy Farms of Connecticut/trainer Noel Daley/driver Eric Goodell; 1:57.4/$3.80; and
• Celebrity Bluechip (by Credit Winner); co-owners Celebrity Farms, Herbert Burns III, Stephen Demeter/trainer Staffan Lind/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:57.2/$4.10.

Friday night’s pair of $42,500 Open handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by Neighsay Hanover (Schnittker, $5.10) and Shacked Up (Bartlett, $5.10) in 1:52.3.

Neighsay Hanover trotted the fastest local mile of the season and set a track record for a 4-year-old horse.

New York Sire Stakes continues here next Thursday night, Sept. 9, with the $237,636 Lew Barasch Trot for 2-year-old colts and geldings.