Yonkers: Daley trainees shine in Thursday's New York Sire Stakes tilt

Trainer Noel Daley's entrants, Seismic Step and Seven Layer, finished first and second in a non-wagering $162,000 New York Sire Stakes event for 3-year-old male trotters on Thursday (July 17) evening at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by Jordan Stratton, Seismic Step cut fractions of 27 1/5, 57 and 1:27 with BJM's Lil Man (Tyler Buter) in the pocket, Seven Layer (Niko Karna) third and Karinchak (Mark MacDonald) distanced after he broke before the start. Karna sent Seven Layer to the outside before three-quarters and loomed on the rim to the wire, but he could never reach Seismic Step, who wound up the winner by a length in 1:57 flat. BJM's Lil Man and Karinchak completed the order.

A Chapter Seven gelding bred by Alan and Larry Troyer, Seismic Step is trained by Daley for owners Allister Stables LLC., Sjoblom Racing Inc., Michael Dolan and Harbor Racing Stable LLC. Unraced as a 2-year-old, Seismic Step has two wins, a second and a third from eight starts this year and has now earned $129,253.

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Trainer Jessica Okusko also pulled off the sweep of the top two finishing positions in the one $20,000 New York Excelsior Series tilt on the pari-mutuel program as her Banksy Monkey (George Brennan) was on top at the 28 second quarter-mile station, the 58 2/5 half and the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters en route to a 3 3/4 length triumph in 1:58 2/5 over stablemate Logo (MacDonald), who advanced from fifth to second in the final quarter. Doctor Strange (John Stark Jr.) collected third.

Okusko sent out the victorious colt by Chapter Seven for owner Paul O'Neil. Banksy Monkey, who was bred by Order By Stable Ab, now has a summary of 4-2-0 from nine trips behind the gate, has now pocketed $40,375 and paid $4.70 to win as part of a favored entry. He led a $30.60 exacta and a $59 trifecta.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT). The New York Sire Stakes circuit will return to Yonkers next Thursday with the fourth leg for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

--press release (Yonkers)--