BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 28, 2012—Atochia (Ron Pierce) grabbed the gusto
from his stablemate Saturday night, nailing Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras)
winning the $455,000 final of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial
Pacing Series.
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| Atochia outpacing stablemate Foiled Again to win the George Morton Levy Memorial Final (Photo by Mike Lizzi) |
It was North America's richest harness race of the season to date.
The 25th edition of the Levy--named for the Hall of Founder of Roosevelt
Raceway--began with defending series champion Real Nice (Jason Bartlett) and
2009-10 winner Foiled Again leaving like bats out of Hades from post position
Nos. 7 and 8, respectively.
Foiled Again made the lead just after a :26.1 opening quarter-mile, then rated
a 29-second next interval (:55.1). Atochia, leaving from post No. 3 and coupled
with Foiled Again as the 4-5 favorite entry, then moved from fifth. Fitz's Z
Tam (Brian Sears) worked from second-up, but gapped.
Meanwhile, Foiled Again found another seemingly-soft station, rating a :28.4
third quarter (1:24) and taking a length lead in the lane. Real Nice couldn't
match strides in the pocket, but Atochia was more than up to the challenge. He
caught his more celebrated barn buddy late, then snapped him on the money. The
margin was a head in 1:52, with Real Nice--beaten a couple of lengths--fading
to third.
Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton) and Fitz's Z Tam completed the cashers, with
Blatantly Good (George Brennan), Strand Hanover (Luc Ouellette) and Art Z
(Brett Miller) rounding out the order.
For Atochia, a 7-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer)
Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and M1 Stables, he (and his partner)
returned $3.60 for his fourth win in six seasonal starts. The exacta (Real Nice
second for exotic purposes) paid $13.20, with the triple (Nob Hill high third
for exotics) returning $156.
The winner's share of $227,500 pushed Atochia's career bankroll to more than
$1.65 million.
For Pierce, it was his second win in this race, having driven Misfit in
1996.
"`I really thought Brett (Miller, driving Art Z) was going to come
first-up, but when he didn't I just want on with it." Pierce said. "I
knew that Foiled Again was trying to slow it down on the front, but (Atochia)
just kept at it.
"At the wire, and I hate to admit this, my feet nearly fell out of the
stirrups. He's a game horse and he deserved it. Ronnie (Burke) asked me earlier
in the week if I'd come over and drive him, and I said I'd be glad to."
Shrewd man, that Pierce.
A
$100,000 series consolation was won by Razzle Dazzle (Sears, $3.10) in 1:51.
The total handle for the 12-race card was a season-high $1,191.338.
