YONKERS,
NY, Saturday, July 14, 2012--The Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, long a Yonkers
Raceway stakes staple for 2-year-old colts and geldings, returned to the menu
Saturday night after a nine-year hiatus.
A trio of $25,000 eliminations--with six contestants each--led into next
Saturday's final, worth $119,000.
The first baby battalion was led by OK Fame (George Brennan, $6.90), who sat a
three-hole Americasgottalent (Jason Bartlett), with To Beach His Own (Ray Schnittker)
loosely pocketed. As Americasgottalent (:28.2, :58.2, 1:27) came back to his
rivals through the lane, he bore out as To Beach His Own was bearing in. The
pair locked wheels, with To Beach His Own making a break. Visa Viper (Brent
Holland) altered, then left, the course. Meanwhile, OK Fame, after hanging a
slight right to avoid the close quarters, was up by a nose in 1:56.3.
To Beach His Own, who crossed the line second, was deemed to have initiated the
contact and was set down to fourth.
For OK Fame, a homebred son of The Panderosa co-owned by Oak Knoll Stables and
trainer Mark Ford, it was his second win (both in identical times) in three
frosh tries. The exacta paid $13.20, with triple wagering scrapped due to a
five-horse field.
The second Sheppard elim saw Scalped (Bartlett, $5.50) last on the lead (:28.2,
:57.4, 1:26.2, 1:56.1) in an early-career life-best. Dealmaker (Larry Stalbaum)
was a passing-lane second, with Rocnrolwilneverdie (Brennan) a first-up third.
For Scalped, a statebred son of Bettor's Delight owned by Brenda Teague and
trained by George Teague Jr., he is now 2-for-2 to begin his career. The exacta
paid $19.40, with the triple returning $43.
The third and final stakes elim found Doctor Butch (Bartlett, $3) eschewing an
early three-hole, then throwing down the gauntlet (:27.2, :57, 1:26.1) to the
tune of 1:55.2...by far the fastest frosh event. Hail the Taxi (Eric Goodell)
rallied from last among the half-dozen to grab second--beaten four
lengths--with A Bettor World (Brennan) third.
For Doctor Butch, an Empire-bred Art Major colt owned by Ken Jacobs and trained
by Linda Toscano, it was his first win in a couple of tries. The exacta paid
$41, with the triple returning $99.
"He's very green, but he has a lot of talent," Bartlett said.
The finalists for the Sheppard, in alphabetical order, are...A Bettor World,
Americasgottalent, Dealmaker, Doctor Butch, Hail the Taxi, OK Fame,
Rocnrolwilneverdie and Scalped. The race shall be drawn (open draw) Tuesday
afternoon.
Saturday night's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by Dancin Yankee (Greg
Merton, $8.70) in 1:51.2.
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.
