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

Yonkers, NY — Statebred sophomore fillies took another turn downstate Monday night (Aug. 18), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $219,700 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace. The event annually honors the memory of the former Executive Secretary of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York, whose contributions to the success of the Empire program cannot be measured.

Many of Bruce’s family and friends were on hand, enjoying the evening and making winner’s circle presentation. Three divisions — at $72,800, $72,800 and $74,100 — comprised the coterie.

Tom Berg photo

Major Dancer was a narrow winner in the opening NYSS event.

Odds-on Major Dancer (George Brennan, $3.50) just lasted in the opening event, holding off a cone-skimming It Was Fascination (Scott Zeron) by a head in 1:53.2.

Away alertly from post position No. 2, Major Dancer — who looks anything but a professional racehorse warming up — threw down intervals of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.1. Longshot Ken Doll J (Jimmy Whittemore) tried it first-up from sixth, but could not close. Major Dancer opened 2-1/2 lengths in and out of the final turn, but needed some urging to close the sale. Southwind Illusions (Eric Carlson) was a best of the rest third.

For Major Dancer, a daughter of Art Major-Two Steppin’ Sally trained by Casie Coleman for Ontario tri-owners West Wins Stable, Mac Nichol and Adriano Sorella, it was her seventh win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $10,40, with the triple returning $65.50.

“Casie (Coleman) said she’s gonna hop and skip warming up,” Brennan said of Major Dancer. “She said I had to get her attention, so I scored her down hard, but even that didn’t seem to work.

“But she has the talent and that was enough tonight.”

Major Dancer was a late lame scratch from her last scheduled NYSS start here. She worked out the next day to become eligible for the Empire Breeders, where she won her elim and was second in the final.

Driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke won the other two Hamilton groupings, both from the pole. Jaded Dream ($5.10) blew past a non-resistant Up Front Elizabeth (Mark MacDonald), then held off Supplemental Income (Jason Bartlett) by a nose in 1:54.4. Sweetnsinful (Whittemore) was a rallying third, while even-money fave Medusa (Tim Tim Tetrick) was shuffled out from the pocket when the leader caved.

Second choice Jaded Dream, a daughter of If I Can Dream-Jaded Gal co-owned (as Burke Racing) by her trainer, Weaver Bruscemi and The Panhellenic Stable, is now three-for-13 this season. The exacta paid $22.40, with the triple returning $129.50.

A La Notte Hanover ($12) reinforced the “short distance between two points” theory in the final sire stakes sojourn, taking it to the house (:29.1, :58.1, 1:26.4, 1:55). Blush Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.), as the 4-5 choice, tried the winner from the inside but missed by a head. Spreester (Dan Dube) was third, with Delightful Dragon (David Miller) fourth. The first four finishers were separated by a neck at the wire.

For fourth choice A La Notte Hanover, an Art Major-All Night Long miss co-owned (as Burke Racing) by her trainer, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Larry Karr, it was her second win in 13 ’14 tries. The exacta paid $22, with the triple returning $62.50.

“The first filly (Jaded Dream) went by so easily,” Gingras said. “I felt Jason (Bartlett’s) horse (Supplemental Income) right on my back, but mine dug in. The other filly (A La Notte Hanover), I would have been content sitting second, but no one really left against her and she was able to get some cheap fractions.”

New York Sire Stakes continue Tuesday night, with the $202,599 Jim Crawford Pace for 2-year-old fillies.