YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 13,
2013--The last two racing nights had Yonkers Raceway host eight series
races--four each in Friday's Blue Chip Matchmaker and Saturday's George Morton
Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Of those eight winners, six were trained
by Ron Burke. After winning three the four mare events, he duplicated that effort
with the boys, going 3-for-4 in the Levy's fourth preliminary round.
Here's the skinny...
First division--The lads were racin'.
Pole-sitting EZ Noah (Tim Tetrick) parked more than a valet, including I Found
My Beach (Brent Holland), Elefctrofire (Brian Sears) and a three-wide Eighteen
(Dan Dube).
Early intervals of :26.2 and :54.1
screamed "closers' race." Defending series champ Atochia (Yannick
Gingras) launched a three-wide bid by the 1:23.1 three-quarters, and looked to
be headed for his close-up.
However, it was his entrymate, Clear
Vision (George Brennan, $4.40), extricating himself from the cones and blowing
by. Clear Vision, leaving from post position No. 6, won by 4¼ widening lengths
in 1:52. Atochia saved second over a tough EZ Noah, with Our Cullenscrown N
(Jordan Stratton) fourth.
The result withstood a lengthy inquiry,
after which the judges determined the winner had not impeded I Found My Beach
when the former left the pylons. A placement would, by rule, have set down both
parimutuel partners.
Clear Vision, a 7-year-old Western
Hanover gelding co-owned by (as Burke Racing) by trainer Burke, Weaver
Bruscemi, Panhellenic Stable and James Koran, it was his first win in four
seasonal starts. The entry was the slight second choice behind
Electrofire, who backpedaled to seventh.
The exacta (EZ Noah second for this
wager) paid $17.20, with the triple (Our Cullenscrown N third for this wager)
returning $89.50.
Second division--Prohibitive choice
Annie'swesterncard (Gingras, $2.40) took no prisoners from the pole. After
dismissing his barn buddy Stonehouse |Adam (Matt Kakaley), who tried to leave
from the eight-hole, he used that one as an outer-tier pick (:26.4, :56).
Second Wind N (Tetrick) went wide around "Adam," with series-debuting
Silent Swing (Sears) pocketed.
"Annie," found three-quarters
in 1:24.2, taking a length-and-three-quarter lead into the lane. He defeated
Silent Swing by a length-and-a-half in 1:51.4, with He We Go Again (Brennan)
third.
Annie'swesterncard, a millionaire
7-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by his trainer,
Weaver Bruscemi. M1 and Panhellenic Stables, is now 5-for-9 this season
(3-for-4 in series).
The exacta (two wagering choices) paid
$3.30, with the triple returning $13.
Third division--For the second
consecutive week, Foiled Again (Gingras, $2.30) had to work a bit to get around
Lettucerocku A (Holland). Leaving from post No. 2, and after a 27-second
opening quarter-mile, he rated his rivals into submission (:56.3, 1:24.4,
1:52.3).
The final margin was a comfy
length-and-a-half over Lettucerocku A, with Shoobee's Place (Brennan) third.
Foiled Again, a 9-year-old Dragon Again
gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by his trainer, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK
Stables, it was his second win in four seasonal/series starts. The exacta paid
$18.60, with the triple returning $40.60.
The resume of harness racing's all-time
richest pacer now features 67 career wins (from 173 starts) and earnings of
$4,694,484.
Fourth division--The Burke slam wasn't
to be, as pylon-patrolling, 1-2 choice Something for Doc (Gingras)--the only
perfect series participant after three rounds, was dueled into defeat here.
He retook from 55-1 Sapphire City
(Holland) before a :26.4 opening quarter, then rated a :56.2 intermission
before Rockincam (Eric Goodell) took out of third. A :26.4 third-quarter stare
down (1:23.1) made both vulnerable late.
Sapphire City closed inside, but 12-1
Razzle Dazzle (Sears, $27.20), leaving from post No. 6 (in one notch after a
defection) and visible only from space early, roared down the outside to pick
off the bombardier by a nose in 1:51.4. Something for Doc settled for third,
beaten three-quarters of a length, with Rockincam winding up sixth.
Razzle Dazzle, a 6-year-old Real Desire
gelding owned by Ira Kristel and trained by Mark Silva, it was his second win
(as fifth choice) in four '13 tries (2-for-3 in series). The exacta paid $876,
with the triple returning $3,376.
Special Saturday props to millionaire
Noble Falcon (Jason Bartlett, $2.80) who won the $23,000, second-race pace for
his 50th career victory (in start 246). The 9-year-old Nobleland Sam gelding is
owned by Fran Azur and trained by Kevin McDermott.
After next week's fifth and final
preliminary round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker (Friday) and Levy (Saturday),
both finals (Matchmaker, $285,000 and Levy, $450,000)--and their respective
consolations--are scheduled for Saturday night, Apr. 27.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live
schedule continues, 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.
