Yonkers: Test Of Faith overpowers foes in NY Sire Stakes

Test Of Faith, Heart Of Mine, and Delightful Z Tam emerged victorious from the trio of New York Sire Stakes divisions for sophomore pacing fillies that took place on Thursday night (July 15) at Yonkers Raceway.

Entering off a win in the Park MGM Pace final over the oval earlier this month, Test Of Faith (David Miller) moved out of the pocket and took the lead away from Think Of Galaxies (Mark MacDonald) heading to the 28 second opening quarter in the first $51,300 section. From there, Test Of Faith was unchallenged through middle-half panels of 56.4 and 1:24.4 and moved away from the field in a 27.3 final kicker on her way to a 5 3/4 length win in 1:52.2. Think Of Galaxies was second, and Tava (George Brennan) got up for third.

An Art Major filly, Test Of Faith is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Eddie Gran. Bred by Fred Hertrich III., Test Of Faith has 13 wins and a second from 14 career starts, and she has now earned $663,350. She paid $2.10 to win and place, and there was no show wagering. The exacta returned $27.20 and the trifecta was worth $106.50.

In the second $50,400 flight, Heart Of Mine (Scott Zeron), the second-place finisher to Test Of Faith in the Park MGM Pace final, gunned to the point from post three and hit the opening quarter in 27.4 and the half in 57.1. Coming to the half, pocket-sitter Olivia Blu (Joe Bongiorno), who was slightly favored over Heart Of Mine (4-5 versus even-money), left the course and then was pulled up with an issue, leaving Summer Rae (Jason Bartlett) in the two-hole en route to the 1:25.4 three-quarters. In the lane Summer Rae came to the outside to take a shot at Heart Of Mine, but Heart Of Mine dug in and held sway to score by three-parts of a length in 1:53.3. Rightfully Mine (Austin Siegelman) advanced from sixth to third in the back-half of the mile.

Trained by Linda Toscano, Heart Of Mine is a daughter of Roll With Joe owned by The Bay's Stable LLC., Radio Racing Stable, Fred Wallace, and Camelot Stable Inc. Heart Of Mine, who was bred by Brittany Farms, is now an eight-time winner from 19 trips behind the gate, and she has banked $279,831. She returned $4.30 to win and was atop a $23.40 exacta and a $115.00 trifecta.

The final $51,300 tilt saw Carrington (MacDonald) blast out from post seven, but she would be passed by pocket-sitting So Diva (Jason Bartlett) near the 27.3 first split. Carrington then made a break late on the second turn, which put Industrial Hemp (Bongiorno) in the two-hole racing to the 57.1 half. Bongiorno fired Industrial Hemp to the outside just after that station, and So Diva and Industrial Hemp battled to and beyond the 1:25.2 three-quarters, with Delightful Z Tam (Pat Lachance) going three-wide from second-over on the final bend. So Diva managed to put Industrial Hemp away before they turned for home, but Delightful Z Tam stormed into the lead in the lane, and then she pulled clear to score by a length and a half in 1:54. Easy To Please (Jordan Stratton) was up for second, and Party Queen (Brennan) collected third.

Delightful Z Tam is an American Ideal filly bred and owned by Lachance and M & M Harness Racing. The Lachance-trained Delightful Z Tam has compiled a record of 6-4-0 from 16 appearances, and she has now put away $74,350. Delightful Z Tam paid $4.70 to win as the favorite and keyed a $16.60 exacta and a $49.60 trifecta.

Stakes action continues on Friday night (July 16) at Yonkers, with the $150,000 MGM Springfield Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings going as race eight on the 12-race program. Post time is 7:15 p.m.

--press release (Yonkers)--