Golden Tricks wins Hudson Trot

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, August 31, 2019—Golden Tricks (Andy Miller, $17.20) inherited the pocket, then snapped 9-10 favorite Quincy Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) at the wire Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot for 3-year-olds.

A race later, odds-on Trillions Hanover (George Brennan, $2.80) whipped four rivals first-up from last in the $122,224 Lady Maud for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Golden Tricks, from post position No. 3, was actually the first leader before yielding to Starita (Dexter Dunn). The latter jumped it off in the second turn after a :28.2 opening quarter-mile.

While Starita was misbehaving, Quincy Blue Chip was out and moving, making the lead before a 57-second intermission. It was a seemingly-sensible 1:27.3 three-quarters after minimal grief from 70-1 Magical Beliefs (Brian Sears).

Quincy Blue Chip had a comfortable length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but Golden Tricks methodically wore her down. Golden Tricks stuck her tongue out of the money in 1:56. Starita was a recovering third, with Magical Beliefs hanging around for fourth.

For third choice Golden Tricks, daughter of Trixton owned by Brixton Medical and trained by Ake Svanstedt, it was her fourth win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $60.50, the triple returned $91 and the superfecta paid $489.

“I tried to keep her quiet,” Miller said after his first drive behind Golden Tricks. The lass had made a Zweig (Vernon) break in her last start. Ake (Svanstedt) said she warmed up good and she felt very good