Yonkers, NY — Woolco won for the first time in her career while Kayleigh S improved to three-for-three in hers in their respective New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night (July 28) at Yonkers Raceway.

The first group went for a purse of $77,200, and Defiant Lady (Jason Bartlett) carved out fractions of :29.2, 1:00.4 and 1:30.2 with Woolco (Tyler Buter) in the pocket and Gigi Hanover (Åke Svanstedt) sitting third. Svanstedt sent Gigi Hanover on a first-over attack heading to three-quarters, but she was rebuffed by Defiant Lady, who continued to show the way around the final bend and into the stretch. In the lane, Defiant Lady dug in gamely when called on by Bartlett, but Woolco squeezed through a gap on her inside nearing the wire to tally by a head in 1:59.3. Gigi Hanover wound up third; favored Ruth Honig (Brian Sears) finished fourth.

A daughter of Chapter Seven-Upside Hanover, Woolco is a homebred for trainer Bob Krivelin and his Hero Stables. Woolco, who was third in the Sire Stakes leg at Batavia Downs last time out, pushed her earnings to $42,824, and she paid $26.80 to win.

Kayleigh S, a full sister to MGM Yonkers Trot champion Joviality S, overcame an outside draw to take her $78,700 Sire Stakes test in 2:01.1.

Driver Brian Sears sent Kayleigh S out from post eight and took command after early leader Mari (George Brennan) faltered on the first turn. Kayleigh S backed down the tempo, clicking off panels of :31, 1:02 and 1:32 before facing pocket-sitter All The Rage (Svanstedt) late on the final bend. All The Rage loomed boldly at Kayleigh S, who was under urging in the lane, but she raced greenly and drifted out while trying to rally, and that allowed Kayleigh S to hold sway by a half length. Midwind Success (Jordan Stratton) was up for third.

Marcus Melander trains Kayleigh S, who is out of the Muscle Hill mare Pasithea Face S, for owner Courant Inc. The AM Bloodstock-bred Kayleigh S has put away $95,600 to go with her unblemished record so far. She returned $4.90 to win as the 7-5 second choice.

Rookie trotting fillies also competed in three $15,000 splits of the New York Excelsior “A” Series on the program, with victories going to Usosweet Blue Chip (2:00.3, Marcus Miller), Jigger Of Gin (2:04, Phil Fluet) and Rhea Titan (2:01.2, Jeff Gregory). One $6,400 Excelsior “B” Series dash went behind the gate as a non-wagering race, won by Eee Z Wow (2:04.1, Tyler Buter).

Stakes action returns to Yonkers on Tuesday (Aug. 2) with a pair of $75,900 New York Sire Stakes clashes for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Yonkers is currently racing on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 6:55 p.m.