BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
The Easter Eve skinny...
First division--A true Kodak moment, the camera could not divide 2-5 Rockincam (Eric Goodell), from post position No. 2, and Classic Rock Nroll (Brian Sears), from post No. 5, in 1:51.4 (intervals of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:24).
The latter edged from the pocket and "heated" the former, one night
after Royal Cee Cee N and Warrawee Koine couldn't be separated in their
division of the Matchmaker. Meant to be Me (Jordan Stratton) was third here,
beaten three lengths.
For season-debuting Rockincam, a 6-year-old son of Camluck owned by Steven
Farrell and trained by Nifty Norman, his career resume now includes 23 wins in
51 starts. The exacta with him first paid $6, with the triple (him first)
returning $17.
For Classic Rock Nroll, a 6-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Tony
O'Sullivan for owner Frank Bellino, it was his first win in two seasonal
starts. The exacta with him first paid $16.40, with the triple (him first)
returning $57.50.
Second division--The public couldn't enough of 2-5 Second Wind N (Tim Tetrick),
but he couldn't get out of his own way after making the lead past the :28.2
quarter-mile. That left second choice Electrofire (Sears, $11), from post No.
5, leading and pole-sitting Forever Just (Jeff Gregory) chasing through
remaining weigh stations of :57.4, 1:26 and 1:53.2.
Electrofire held sway, winning by three-quarters of a length. Flipper J (Jason
Bartlett) was third. Second Wind N recovered to race first-up, but faded
and finished last among the seven.
Electrofire, a 6-year-old son of Electric Stena co-owned by Ross Warriner &
Dave Miller and trained by Andrew Harris, is now 3-for-9 this season. The
exacta paid $48,80, with the triple returning $155.50.
Listowel (Bartlett) skimmed the cones to grab second at 29-1, picking off
tiring pocket-sitter Our Cullenscrown N (Tetrick). E Z Noah (Sears) was fourth.
"Doc," a 5-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Burke for
co-owners himself (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Strollin' Stables, has
five wins in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.40, the triple returned
$82.50 and the superfecta paid $170.50.
Versado (Sears), the 9-5 choice, wound up fourth after a tough eight-hole
excursion.
"Annie," a 7-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 and Panhellenic Stables, has
won four of his seven seasonal starts (three consecutive). The exacta paid $53,
with the triple returning $181.
After the latter whipped the former a week ago, they hooked up here. Foiled
Again, looped early by Sapphire City (Brent Holland), took over before a :27.4
opening quarter-mile.
Razzle Dazzle, after brief tuck fifth from his eight-hole, was on the move
again. He and Foiled Again matched wits passing a :54.4 half and 1:23.1
three-quarters, with Razzle Dazzle eventually taking over. However, a second
move by 20-1 Sapphire City vaulted him to the lead turning for home.
Then came the closers. Code Word (Brennan) and Casimir Jitterbug (Goodell) went
by everyone, with fourth choice "Jitterbug" ($26) winning by a head
in 1:52.2. Foiled Again did re-rally to finish third—beaten two lengths--with
Yo Cheyenne Rocky (Dan Dube) fourth. Razzle Dazzle faded to seventh.
Casimir Jitterbug, a 6-year-old Sir Luck gelding trained by O'Sullivan for
owner Bellino, has won four of his seven '13 tries. The exacta paid $92.50, the
triple returned $243 and the superfecta paid $1,872.
