Yonkers, NY --- New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Tuesday night (July 29) with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $201,600 Mike Cohen Trot for 2-year-old fillies. The quintet of races honored the memory of the former Yonkers and NBC Sports publicity director, with his family and friends making winner’s circle presentations.
The opening $39,900 event saw a down-the-road Pig Hunt (George Brennan, $9.80), from post position No. 5, break the tape in a spiffy 1:59.4 with fractions of :30.2, 1:01.2 and 1:30.1. The effort matched her previous season’s-best.
Frou Frou (Brett Miller), as the 7-10 favorite, lost her tow when Icy Sprite (Jason Bartlett) broke, then could not get near the winner. The final margin was a length, with Praying Gear (Jeff Gregory) third.
For third choice Pig Hunt, a daughter of Conway Hall-Chippewa Street co-owned by trainer Janice Connor and Jennifer Connor, it was her second win in four first-season starts. The exacta paid $20.20, with the triple returning $53.50.
“She shows trotting every start, so I wasn’t worried about her,” Brennan said. “I was able to back down the half and control the race.”
Tuesday night’s $40,900 second sire stakes event was a successful debut for Shaqline (Jimmy Takter, $6.20). In play early from post No. 2, she found a :30.1 opening quarter. Then Concentration (Chris Lems) grabbed the baton (1:01.2, 1:30.2), with 17-10 choice Barn Girl (Gregory) trotting in place first-up.
Concentration owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane, but Shaqline took to the passing lane like a veteran. She ducked in and went by, the final margin 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1. Cherry Crown Jewel (Dan Daley) was third, with Barn Girl winding up fourth.
For second choice Shaqline, a Credit Winner-Vivica Hall miss trained by Takter for Brixton Medical Ab, her sire stakes debut came after just one freshman race. The exacta paid $39, the triple returned $104 and the superfecta paid $439.
“She’s bred to be very good,” Takter said of the full-sister to $400,000-plus winner Shaq Is Back. “She had breathing issues and three surgeries. Fortunately, she had some good doctors.”
The $39,900 third Cohen division saw Summer Scent (Daley, $17.40) -- from post No. 4 -- sit behind 2-1 choice Kaliska (Ray Schnittker) through fractions of :28.3, :59 and 1:29.2. Summer Scent then made her way past, winning by a half-length in a maiden-breaking 2:00.3. Third went to Duolectra (Corey Callahan).
For fourth choice Summer Scent, a Malabar Man-Summer Hit miss trained by Daley for co-owners Ann-Mari Daley and Jlrl LLC, it was that first win in five ’14 tries,. The exacta paid $16.20, with the triple returning $556.
“She keeps at it,” Dan Daley said. “She doesn’t always want to pass another horse, but she drew better tonight and that helped.”
The $40,600 fourth sire stakes event was won by an in-form, 9-10 fave Barn Doll (Gregory, $3.80). Unhurried from post No. 2, she watched as Summers Windsong (Schnittker) and Nunkeri (Callahan) took turns through fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:30.1.
Barn Doll methodically made her move, first-up from fourth before collaring the leader early in the lane. She then edged away to beat Nunkeri by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:59.1, the night’s fastest and matching her previous life-best. Summers Windsong was third.
For Barn Doll, a Conway Hall-Headintheclouds lass co-owned by trainer Steve Pratt, Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables, it was her fourth consecutive win in five seasonal starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $14, with the triple returning $47.80.
“She’s a smart filly,” Gregory said. “She’s able to relax and that’s going