pire State continued its sublet of Empire City Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting four  consecutive--and soggy --$55,056 divisions of the $220,224 New York Sire Stakes Mount Vernon Pace for 3-year-old fillies. This class of lass was also here last week.

 

Eagle Way, 2008's rookie divisional champion, earned her first 2009 meet and greet with the photographer in the third division.

 

Sent off as the 1-9 choice from the pole, the people's preference--along with driver Jim Morrill Jr.--played leapfrog on the lead with JK Cameo (Stephane Bouchard).after a :28.3 opening quarter mile. She found a :58.3 intermission as Witch Is Bettor (Kyle DiBenedetto), a sire stakes winner a week ago, began her protracted bid.

 

Eagle Way led through a 1:28.3 three-quarters, taking a length advantage into the lane. She prevailed by a half-length over JK Cameo in 1:57.1, with Witch Is Bettor a stubborn third from an eight-hole impost.

 

For Eagle Way, a daughter of Dream Away owned by Frank Dettore Horse Racing and trained by Mark Ford, she returned $2.30 for that first '09 win in her fifth seasonal start. The victress led a $6.40 exacta and $40 triple.

 

Thursday night's other NYSS events went to...  

--All Spirit (by Bettor's Delight); owner Larry  Lanpher/trainer Judy Lanpher/driver Jim Marohn Jr.; 1:55.2/$11;

--Artist's Rendition (by Art Major); owner Bulletproof Enterprises/trainer Joe Caraluzzi/driver Bouchard; (life-best) 1:57.1/$24.20;

--Bet on Luck (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners (trainer) George Teague Jr. and Kovach Stables/driver Jason Bartlett; (life-best) 1:55.1/$6.90. Bet on Luck was a NYSS winner here a week ago.

 

New York Sire Stakes continue Friday night, with the $216,465 White Plains Trot finding five divisions (races 4,5,6,8 & 9) of 3-year-old colts and  geldings. (Yonkers)