Yonkers: Hickfromfrenchlick quickest in New York Sire Stakes

Yonkers Raceway Friday night (Aug. 24th) hosted the $156,000 New York Sire Stakes Jim Crawford Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Three divisions, worth $52,000 each, comprised the event.

The opening group offered minimal suspense, as 1-5 favorite Major Blake (Jason Bartlett, $2.40) had an open lead virtually from the outset. From post position three, he rolled through intervals of 28 2/5, 58, 1:26 2/5, and 1:55. Major Blake disposed of a loosely-pocketed World On Edge (Matt Kakaley) by a couple of lengths, with Chatelroll (Jordan Stratton) a wide and rallying third. Buddy Hill (Dexter Dunn) wound up a first-up fourth.

For Major Blake, an Art Major colt co-owned by (trainer) Sam Schillaci, Howard Berke and Matthew Bencic, it was his third win in four seasonal/NYSS starts. The exacta paid $8.60, the triple returned $27.20 and the superfecta paid $86.50.

The second go-round saw Sheppard Pace winner Hickfromfrenchlick (Ray Schnittker, $5.20) stalk pole-sitting 13-10 fave Melodie’s Major (Tyler Buter), then make up some distance to get him and get away (28 2/5, 56 4/5, 1:24 2/5, life-best 1:53 3/5).

From post two, Hickfromfrenchlick had to chase from 2 1/4 lengths off the final turn before winning by a half-length. Cub Fan (Marcus Miller) and Covered Bridge (Jordan Stratton) were third and fourth, respectively.

For second choice Hickfromfrenchlick, a son of So Surreal co-owned by his trainer/driver, Nolamaura Racing and Thomas Spatorico, he’s now three-for-four this season. The exacta paid $9.60, the triple returned $29.60 and the superfecta paid $117.50.

The third and final sire stakes get-together was won by polester Artie’s Ideal (Miller, $14). After stuffing Rock America (catch-driver George Brennan) in behind early, ‘Artie’ rated it well (28, 58, 1:27, and 1:55 1/5). He put away both a first-up Bicorne Hanover (Kakaley) and a second-over, 4-5 choice Reigning Deo (Stratton).

Artie’s Ideal defeated Reigning Deo by a length and a half, with Bicorne Hanover third and Jet Rock (Jim Marohn Jr.) recovering from an early break to finish fourth.

For third choice Artie’s Ideal, a son of American Ideal owned by Bay Pond Racing Stable and trained by Erv Miller, it was his second win in four ’18 tries (two-for-three in statebred ranks). The exacta paid $36, the triple returned $83.50 and the superfecta paid $211.50.

--press release (Yonkers)--