$156,900 NYSS Hugh Grant Trot at Yonkers

YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, July 3, 2018-New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Tuesday night , with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $156,900 Hugh Grant Trot for harness racing 2-year-old fillies.

Four divisions-worth $38,700, $39,400, $39,400 and $39,400, respectively-comprised the event.

The opening division saw a sire stakes-repeating Winndevie (Trond Smedshammer, $3.30) grind Liquorstoreblues (Jason Bartlett) into submission early in the lane. From post position No. 3, she edged away by a couple of lengths (:29.4, 1:01, 1:30.4, life-best 1:59.4). Hot Chapter (Andy Miller) extricated herself from the pocket to get second, with Liquorstoreblues fading to third.

Somermusic'chapter (Dan Daley) was fourth, as the other two ladies misbehaved early.

For Winndevie, a daughter of Credit Winner trained by her driver for owner Purple Haze Stables, she's now won both of her career starts. The exacta paid $7.50, the triple retuned $16 and the superfecta paid $41.80.

"She is really good, gets around a half perfectly and does everything right," Smedshammer said, adding Winndevie is only statebred-staked this season.

The evening's second grouping had favored Safe Word (Jeff Gregory, $5.20) barely last on the lead (:30.1, 1:01.3, 1:31.3, maiden-breaking 2:00.4). From post No. 3, she held sway by a diminishing head.

With Out a Doubt (Miller) sat a loose pocket, moved inside and missed. Qiss Me Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) was third, with Exotic Diamond (George Brennan) fifth-placed-fourth after another's lane transgression.

For Safe Word, a Credit Winner miss co-owned by her driver/trainer, William Richardson, Martin Garey & Henry Wieseneck, it was first win in a pair of career tries. The exacta paid $49, the triple retuned $214.50 and the superfecta paid $340.50.

"I really like her,' Gregory said. "She's getting better every week."

The evening's third get-together saw four of the seven lasses blow up in the first turn.

The two wagering choices were unscathed, however, as Quincy Blue Chip (Brian Sears, $4.30) went the distance (:31.2, 1:02.1, 1:32.2, first purse-start 2:01).

From post No. 5, she worked around Sensibility (Zeron), then whipped her by a length-and-a-half.

Hanna Dreamgirl (Tim Tetrick), one of early jumpers, recovered well to challenge first-up. She did tire to third, however, with Pittstop Beki (Daley) fourth.

For Quincy Blue Chip, a homebred daughter of Chapter Seven owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock and trained by Gareth Dowse, it was her aforementioned initial race for money. The exacta paid $12.80, the triple retuned $43.40 and the superfecta paid $399.50.

The evening's final foray, another one dotted with dancers, authored the lone surprise. It was 19-1 Conway Kellyanne (Charlie Norris, $40.20) finished what she started (:29.4, :58.1, 1:28.4, 1:58.1) in a night's fastest/first career win.

From post No. 6, she left around 2-5 choice Amal Hall (Miller), then rebuffed her early advances. Conway Kellyanne defeated Amal Hall by three-quarters of a length. Water Lily Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) was third, with It's My Party (Sam Schillaci) fourth.

For fourth choice Conway Kellyanne, a daughter of (who else?) Conway Hall trained by her driver for co-owners Carrie Norris, Acadia Farms and G&B Racing, she's now for a couple this season. The exacta paid $75, the triple retuned $325.50 and the superfecta paid $1,320.

"We made some changes and closed her up a bit," Norris said. "A very nice filly."

The next New York Sire Stakes visit is Friday's (July 3rd) $162,000 Clyde Hirt Pace (2-year-old fillies).

by Frank Drucker, for Yonkers Raceway