YONKERS, NY, Thursday, September 15, 2016 – The final downstate New York Sire Stakes leg of the season was contested Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $146,823 Jim Crawford Pace for the harness racing 2-year-old colts/geldings.
Three, $48,941 divisions comprised the event.
The opening group had division leader Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley, $4.80) winning as he pleased. From post position No. 4, he had an open lead around the oval (:28.4, :58.3, 1:27.3, 1:55.3).
Pole-sitting, 11-10 favorite Rock the Boat (Jordan Stratton) saved second from the loosest of pockets-beaten fourth lengths-with Goose Mountain (Dan Dube) third.
Miso Fast, a Roll with Joe colt co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva Stables, it was his fifth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.20, with the triple returning $41.
Thursday night's second sire stakes event was a beat down administered by 1-4 choice Funknwaffles (Jim Morrill Jr., $2.50). Starting outside his five rivals, he was keen early, away third and just about running up the back of Scott Zeron (driving Serious Major).
After What's Goin' On (Mark MacDonald) carried the early (:27.2) water, Funknwaffles took over and did so effortlessly (:54.4, 1:23.4, 1:54.3). From six lengths at the half, the final margin (over What's Goin' On) was 5¾ lengths.
Twin B Cowboy (George Brennan) was third.
Funknwaffles, a American Ideal gelding co-owned by Crawford Farms Racing & Susan Oakes and trained by John Butenschoen, he's now 7-for-8 this season. The exacta paid $6.10, with the triple returning $20.20.
The evening's final statebred jaunt was another waltz around Westchester, this one by 1-5 choice Pointomygranson (Marcus Miller, $2.40)
In play from post No. 3, he completed his compulsories without incident (:28.3, :57.4, 1:26.4, 1:54.4). The margin here was 'only' 2¾ lengths, with Chip Walther (Brent Holland) second and Willie Joe Hill (Pat Lachance) third.
Pointomygranson, an American Ideal gelding owned by Gold Standard Equine and trained by Chris Ryder, it was his third win in eight '16 tries. The exacta paid $26, with the triple returning $43.20.
Saturday, Sept. 24th, the Raceway is home to the $1.8 million New York Night of Champions, richest night of racing in the state. Eight, $225,000 sire stakes finals-for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits-go postward.
Those races are to be drawn Tuesday morning, Sept. 20th.
Frank Drucker