by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — First-season fillies were on display Monday night (Aug. 26), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $288,772 New York Sire Stakes Mike Cohen Trot.

Four divisions — at $72,193 each — comprised the event, which began with the biggest pari-mutuel surprise of the entire season.

Tom Berg photo

Market Rally defeated Annies List by a neck in the opening division.

Market Rally (John Cummings, Jr.), sent off at two bits more than 100-1, held off 3-10 choice Annies List (Andy Miller) by a neck in 2:01.2 — a life-best by more than four seconds.

Starting outside her six foes, Market Rally did her damage from third over, while Annies List — recovering from an early break — went wider but could not reach. Exotic Form (Dan Daley) was third, beaten 4-1/2 lengths.

For Market Rally, a daughter of Cash Hall-Supreme Dish co-owned by (trainer) Megan Wilson and Johnny Yoder, the $202.50 win mutuel made her two-for-six this season. The exacta paid $708, with the triple returning $2,093.

Form held in the second division, as just over even-money Maud Blue Chip (Cat Manzi) eased first-up. Starting from post No. 4, Maud Blue Chip engaged pace-setting Flyhawk Falina (Daley), then widened to a couple of lengths in a life-best 2:01.1. Caroline Street (Ray Schnittker) was able to get into second, with Flyhawk Falina tiring to third.

Maud Blue Chip, a Credit Winner-Queen Of The Moor miss trained by Chuck Sylvester for co-owners Melvin Hartman, David McDuffee and Little E LLC, returned $4.10 for her second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $67, the triple returned $120.50 and the superfecta (L Dee’s Scripture fourth) paid $350.50.

Manzi doubled his fun in the third event with maiden-breaking Gammy’s Girl ($12.60) going down the road from the pole in 2:01.3. It was Gammy’s Girl fending off a stiff challenge from 3-5 choice Crediama (Trond Smedshammer), then winning by 2-1/4 lengths. How About Cash (Dan Dube) rallied for second, with 51-1 rank outsider Oh Sweet Penelope (Daley) third. Crediama faded to fourth.

Third choice Gammy’s Girl, a daughter of Conway Hall-Lasting Victory co-owned by LST Stables and William DeVan, Jr. and trained by Bill Popfinger, has hit the board in all six ’13 tries (one win, two seconds, three thirds). The exacta paid $170.50, with the triple returning $1,788.

The final grouping produced the night’s fastest effort, as 4-5 choice Beauty Of Gray (Jim Meittinis) made it look simple. Two-moving to the lead from post No. 4, she never had an anxious moment. The final margin was 3-3/4 lengths in 2:00.1. In keeping with Monday night’s theme, it, too, was a life-best. Fashionableapple (Brian Sears) was second, ahead of pocket-sitting Barn Beauty (Cummings).

Beauty Of Gray, a Conway Hall-Armbro Sparkle lass co-owned by trainer Tommy Andersson and Courant AB, returned $3.70 for her second consecutive win in three plebe tries. The exacta paid $20.20, with the triple returning $92.

Statebreds return Tuesday night with the $235,887 NYSS Frank Becerra Pace (2-year-old fillies) and Friday evening with the $282,975 NYSS Bruce Hamilton Pace (3-year-old fillies).