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

Yonkers, NY — State-breds were again on display Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $291,440 New York Sire Stakes Pat Quaglietta Trot for 2-year-old fillies.

Mike Lizzi photo

Jim Morrill Jr drove heavily favored You Want Me (1) to victory in the 3rd division of NYSS in 1:59.3

Four divisions–at $72,860 each–were consecutively contested.

Barn Babe (John Cummings Jr.) continued her solid season, winning the opening event from the pocket in a life-best 1:59.2. Barn Babe tracked 7-10 choice Fifty Shades (Jeff Gregory) around the ovals through fractions of :29.2, 59.3 and 1:30 before prevailing by a scant nose.

A pair of 60-1 outsiders, Single Sock (Dan Daley) and Daytona Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker), wound up third and fourth, respectively, as the other four lasses all misbehaved.

For Barn Babe, a daughter of Cash Hall-My Baby’s Momma owned and trained by Steve Pratt, she returned $10 (second choice) for her fourth win (with three seconds and two thirds) in nine seasonal starts. Her first-season earnings went past $109,000. The exacta paid $15.60, the triple returned $162 and the superfecta paid $2,142.

The second grouping was won by 7-5 favorite Alphadoodle (Gregory), who improved position down the backside, then went by late. She defeated 36-1 shot Crazy About NY (Jordan Stratton) by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:59.3, with pace-setting (:30.1, :59.2, 1:29.1) Amor Deo (George Brennan) tiring to third.

For Alphadoodle, a Credit Winner-Ella Minnow Pea miss co-owned by (trainer) Rick Zeron, James Walker, Rojan and Hutt Stables, she returned $4.80 for her second (consecutive) win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $81.50, with the triple returning $312.

Driver Jim Morrill Jr. then took over the back half of the sire stakes, appeasing the chalk players and smiling for the camera with You Want Me ($2.90) in 2:01.1 and Lady Riviera ($2.60) in 1:59.3.

You Want Me, a Credit Winner-Annette Hall lass co-owned by (breeder) William Weaver III and (trainer) Paul Kelley, has won her last three (statebred) tries and is 3-for-7 this season. She held off Royal Malinda (Daley) by a half-length, with Bouncing Bax (Jim Raymer) third and Palm Beach Chic (Gregory) fourth.

The exacta paid $11.40, the triple returned $109 and the superfecta returned $325.50.

As for Lady Riviera, she beat back the unwanted advances of a stubborn Isabella Gal (Sean Bier) to win by a length and three-quarters. Maggie O (Mark MacDonald) grabbed the bottom of the ticket.

Lady Riviera, a daughter of Sand Vic-La Riviera Lindy owned and trained by Rich Banca, now has four wins and a pair of seconds in seven ’12 tries. The exacta (two wagering choice) paid $7.10, with the triple returning $42.60.

Friday’s night’s usual pair of Open Handicaps–for trotters and distaff pacers–were won by Blacktuxwhitesocks (Brennan, $3) in 1:55 and Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland, $7.60) in 1:52.2.