YONKERS,
NY, Friday, June 29, 2012—New York Sire Stakes once again took over Yonkers
Raceway, this time with Friday night's $340,239 Armand Palatucci Pace for
3-year-old colts and geldings.
A trio of consecutive ($113,413) contests, with Lawgiver Hanover (Jim Morrill
Jr., $19) beginning the parade in a life-best 1:52.2.
Away third from post position No, 2, he watched as 8-5 fave Major Bombay (Jason
Bartlett)--three-wide early--led through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:24.3.
Union Man Hanover (Tim Tetrick) was pocketed. Major Bombay, swatting away
longshot pressure from Racing Rocky (Brent Holland), owned a length-and-a-half
lead into the lane.
"Lawgiver" waited for room, then went right by, winning by two
lengths. Major Bombay saved second, with "Union Man" third.
Lawgiver Hanover, a son of Art Major trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Deena
Frost, Rick Phillips and W Springtime Racing, is now 2-for-6 this season. The exacta
paid $95.50, with the triple returning $247.50.
Forever Just (Tetrick, $7.50) survived an adventurous second-division trip to
prevail in a life-best 1:52.4. Four-wide at the outset from post No. 5, he was
wrangled back as first Bet on the Law (Morrill Jr.), then Gable Blue Chip (Mark
MacDonald) found the lead. After a :27.3 opening quarter-mile and 56-second
half, Forever Just was rushing from fourth.
However, "Gable" wasn't quite done in and out of the 1:24.1
three-quarters, though he dropped anchor soon after. Forever Just had a
length-and-a-quarter lead off the final turn, then held off the pylon-skimming
Bet on the Law by a head, with Ideal Romance (George Brennan)--second-up behind
the winner--and Screen the Call (Holland) rounding out the exotic finishers.
Forever Just, a son of Bettor's Delight trained by Linda Toscano for co-owners
Fred Wallace and Stake Your Claim Stable, is now 3-for-6 this season. The
exacta paid $26.60, the triple returned $111 and the superfecta paid $685.
Defending sire stakes champ Heston Blue Chip (Tetrick, $2.30) surprised few in
the final division. After a four-wide-early Coral Snake (Brennan) set sail
through early intervals of :27.3 and :57.3, the prohibitive favorite—leaving
from post No. 3--went by.
Coral Snake--who had begun his career with four consecutive wins--eventually
broke in the third turn and Heston Blue Chip found a 1:24.4 three-quarters.
With only Steelhead Hanover (Morrill Jr.) in earshot, the leader held him off,
winning by two lengths in 1:52.4. Third went to Art of Temptation (Larry
Stalbaum). Heston Blue Chip, an American Ideal soph trained by Toscano for
owner Ken Jacobs, went past a half-million dollars for his now 15-for-17 career
(4-for-4 in '12). The exacta paid $5.40, with the triple returning $27.40.
The pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won
by Fox Valley Iliad (Stalbaum, $3.70) in 1:55.2 and Lightning Treasure (Dan
Dube, $3.60) in 1:52.4, respectively,
The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first
post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA
schedule.
