Yonkers: Sophomore pacing fillies compete in Sire Stakes

Three divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old fillies were contested on Thursday night at Yonkers Raceway, with the first two favorites dominating the action before an upset in the finale.

In a race loaded with action, So Rude tucked third in the 26 2/5 opening quarter as Racine Bell and Merga Hanover battled it out. Merga Hanover would wrestle the lead away passing the quarter but immediaqtely had to deal with So Rude as the fillies passed the half in a sizzling 54 2/5. The pace continued to be quick, with So Rude posting three quarters in 1:22 1/5 as Merga Hanover backed up and Racine Bell took over the pocket. Those two were the only ones in with a shot in the stretch and So Rude, under all-out urging from Joe Bongiorno, held off Racine Bell by three-quarters of a length. Galleria Gal was third.

So Rude ($2.70) is trained by Jennifer Bongiorno for owners Geoffrey Lyons Mound, Glenn Goller and Abraham Bassen. The daughter of So Surreal has won two of three starts in 2020 and increased her bankroll by $25,650 with her half of the winner's share. .

In the second $52,200 Sire Stakes, Hen Party would secure the lead before the opening quarter in 26 4/5 and never looked back, setting fractions of 57 2/5 and 1:25 3/5 before holding off a late challenge from pocket-sitter Alleyesonme As in 1:53 3/5. Coconut Beach was third.

Hen Party ($3.90) was driven by Andrew McCarthy for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Crawford Farms Racing. The daughter of Roll With Joe picked up her first win of 2020 and upped her career bankroll to a few dollars under $200,000.

Capping off the action was a wire-to-wire performance by Eye Popping, who took on the 1-5 favorite Stephanie Deo at the opening quarter in 28 3/5, watched that foe break, and rolled to victory. Driver Tim Tetrick set fractions of 57 and 1:25 1/5 with Eye Popping before stopping the timer in 1:53 4/5 to best Precious Alexis and Moaning Lisa.

Eye Popping ($16.60) is trained by Scott DiDomenico for owner William Hartt. The filly by So Surreal picked up her second win in three starts this year and tripled her career earnings with 50 percent of the $51,300 purse.