by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director for Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — The final downstate New York Sire Stakes leg of the season was contested Thursday night (Sept. 15), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $146,823 Jim Crawford Pace for 2-year-old colts/geldings. Three $48,941 divisions comprised the event.

Chris Brokate photo

Miso Fast collected his fifth triumph in seven 2016 starts in NYSS action at Yonkers Raceway.

The opening group had division leader Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley, $4.80) winning as he pleased. From post position four, he had an open lead around the oval and set fractions of :28.4, :58.3, 1:27.3, 1:55.3 en route to victory. Pole-sitting, 11-10 favorite Rock the Boat (Jordan Stratton) saved second from the loosest of pockets—beaten fourth lengths—with Goose Mountain (Dan Dube) third.

For Miso Fast, a Roll With Joe colt co-owned by trainer Ron Burke, Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva Stables, it was his fifth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.20, with the triple returning $41

Thursday night’s second Sire Stakes event was a beat-down administered by 1-4 choice Funknwaffles (Jim Morrill Jr., $2.50). Starting outside his five rivals, he was keen early, away third and just about running up the back of Scott Zeron, who was driving Serious Major. After What’s Goin’ On (Mark MacDonald) carried the early water in :27.2, Funknwaffles took over and did so effortlessly, setting fractions of :54.4, 1:23.4, 1:54.3. After a lead of six lengths at the half-mile, the final margin over What’s Goin’ On was 5-3/4 lengths. Twin B Cowboy (George Brennan) was third.

Funknwaffles, a American Ideal gelding co-owned by Crawford Farms Racing & Susan Oakes and trained by John Butenschoen, is now seven-for-eight this season. The exacta paid $6.10, with the triple returning $20.20.

The evening’s final state-bred jaunt was another waltz around Westchester, this one by 1-5 choice Pointomygranson (Marcus Miller, $2.40)

In play from post position three, he completed his compulsories without incident with fractions of :28.3, :57.4, 1:26.4, 1:54.4. The margin here was ‘only’ 2-3/4 lengths, with Chip Walther (Brent Holland) second and Willie Joe Hill (Pat Lachance) third.

Pointomygranson, an American Ideal gelding owned by Gold Standard Equine and trained by Chris Ryder, captured his third win in eight tries this season. The exacta paid $26, with the triple returning $43.20.

Saturday (Sept. 24), the Raceway is home to the $1.8 million New York Night of Champions, which is the richest night of racing in the state. Eight, $225,000 Sire Stakes finals—for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits—go postward.

Those races are to be drawn Tuesday morning (Sept. 20).