YONKERS NY, Saturday, September 29, 2012--Yonkers Raceway Saturday night hosted its fourth annual Fall Harvest Festival, again celebrating the thriving relationship between agriculture and horse racing throughout New York.
A number of fun, family events were held on a crowded track apron, along with
an array Empire State-made products.
The $400,000 Fall Harvest Series offered eight, $50,000 races for New York-bred
2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits who were not eligible for last
week's New York Night of Champions. The glory went to...
--2-year-old trotting fillies--Order By Credit (by Credit Winner); owner Order
By Stable/trainer Jimmy Takter/driver Dan Dube; 1:59.3/$16.80;
--2-year-old trotting colts/geldings--Ex King (by CR Excalibur); owner Bay Pond
Racing Stable/trainer-driver Dan Daley; (life-best) 2:00.3/$6.90;
--2-year-old
pacing fillies--Aria J (by Art Major); owner Ken Jacobs/trainer Linda
Toscano/driver Jim Morrill Jr.; 1:56/$4;
--2-year-old pacing colts/geldings--Sir Cary's Z Tam (by Bettor's Delight);
co-owners (trainer/driver) Pat Lachance, M&M Harness Racing,Ira Rosenblum;
1:55.1/$5.40;
--3-year-old trotting fillies--Barbara Goldstein (by Conway Hall); owner
Steven Goldstein/trainer-driver Kim Crawford; 1:58.2/$21.60;
--3-year-old
pacing fillies--Bettor B Lucky (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners (trainer) Ron
Burke,Weaver Bruscemi,W J Donovan,Lawrence Karr; 1:54.2/$2.10;
--3-year-old trotting colts/geldings--Classic Conway,g (by Conway Hall);
co-owners Albert & Michelle Crawford/trainer Gates Brunet/driver
Stephane Bouchard; 1:58.2/$6.80;
--3-year-old pacing colts/geldings--Dynamic Youth,g (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners
Ken Tucci,C&G Racing,J&T Silva Stb/trainer Aaron Lambert/driver
George Brennan; 1:52.2/$2.10.
"She's always had the talent, but some physical issues have come up along
the way," Morrill Jr. said of Bettor B Lucky, who actually broke her
maiden in the 2011 Fall Harvest Festival. "She's just a sweetheart to
drive, and I think she's as good as any filly right now."
"For whatever reason, Yonkers brings out the best in her," Crawford
said of Barbara Goldstein. "She's had some bumps at other tracks, but when
she comes here, she always races well. We have to decide whether to keep her
going or become a broodmare."
"The best thing about him is his determination," Brennan said of
Dynamic Youth. "He wasn't at his best tonight, but he knows when it’s time
to go. The horse on the lead (Domethatagain) really made us work for it."
Saturday night's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by Eagle All (Brennan,
$7.40) in 1:51.3.
The Festival again included the Legislators' Challenge, a trio of non-wagering
events with New York elected officials from both sides of the aisles doing
battle.
Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa), driving M D Bee Bee (with some
assistance from Jordan Stratton), wired the first division in 2:06.4. Assembly
Member Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) was a pocket winner in the second division,
with Eragon (and Larry Stalbaum) in 2:08.4. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mt.
Vernon) did it first-up in the third division, driving Halsey Hanover (Brent
Holland was there, too) to a nose win over a fast-closing Strong Signal
(Assemblyman Michael Dendekker, D-E. Elmhurst, and Jason Bartlett) in 2:11.2.
For Mr. Saladino and Ms. Mayer, it was their first victories in this
hotly-contested competition, while Mr. Pretlow is a veteran of the Challenge
winner's circle.
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.
