BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 14, 2012--Yonkers Raceway Saturday night offered
penultimate preliminary round competition in its George Morton Levy Memorial
Pacing Series competition.
A quintet of $50,000 events comprised the fourth round, with many of the usual
names--save for the AWOL Atochia--adorning the marquee.
Here's the abridged visual version...
1st division--Three-time local driving champion Luc Ouellette, back here for
the first time in nine years, made money in this business trip. Leaving from
post position No. 4, he and odds-on Strand Hanover ($3.90) two-moved to a
handy, length-and-a-half victory in 1:52 (equal halves of 56 seconds). Power of
Tara N (George Brennan) skimmed the cones for second, with Dreamlands Art
(Yannick Gingras) a pocket third
For Strand Hanover, a 6-year-old son of Modern Art trained by Tony Alagna
for co-owners Uncirculated Stable & Brenda Selwyn Waxman,, it was his
fourth win (second in series) in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid |$33.80,
with the triple returning $167.
2nd division--Fitz's Z Tam (Brian Sears, $14), a winner deep along the cones a
week ago, did his damage from second-over. He tracked Art Two D Two (Brennan),
then went past that one and tiring favorite River Shark (Mark MacDonald) in
1:52.1. Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton), after sitting in early, closed for
second, with River Shark third.
For Fitz's Z Tam, a 5-year-old Cole Muffler gelding trained by Tyler Raymer for
co-owners Martin Scharf and Silva Stable, it was his third win in nine seasonal
starts. The exacta paid $36, with the triple returning $99.
3rd division--Odds-on Blatantly Good (Brennan, $2.20) retook from Dancin'
Yankee (Bartlett), then held that one at bay by a half-length (1:52) in a what
turned into a match race. Roadside Delight (Pat Lachance) was third, beaten 4
3/4 lengths
For Blatantly Good, an 8-year-old son of Albert Albert owned by Bamond Racing
and trained by PJ Fraley, it was his third win (first series win) in 11
seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.50, with the triple returning $53.
4th division--Defending series champ Real Nice (Bartlett, $2.60) is the only
4-for-4 player in this series after a workman-like 1:51.4 effort. Leaving from
post No. 4, he was three-wide early before fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and
1:24.3. He whipped a solid, first-up Valentino (Cat Manzi) by a
length-and-three-quarters, with Clear Vision (Gingras) third.
For Real Nice, a millionaire 7-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Beverly
& Gary Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, it was his
fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $29, the triple returned
$112.50 and the superfecta (Rock to Glory [Sears]) paid $411.
5th division--Foiled Again (Gingras, $2.10) fooled no one in evening's final
series sojourn. In play from post No. 4, he controlled the combatants through
intervals of :28, :56.2, 1:24.2 and 1:52. Foreign Officer (Stratton) chased
from the pocket, beaten a non-threatening length-and-three-quarters. Art Z
(Brett Miller) tried his luck first-up from third, and wound up third.
For Foiled Again, a thrice-millionaire--and twice series champ--8-year-old
Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver
Bruscemi and JJK Stables, it was his third (series) win in four '12 tries. The
exacta paid $7.80, with the triple returning $17.60.
Yonkers' five-night-per-week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) live
schedule continues. First post for all programs remains at 7:10 PM.
Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
