YONKERS,
NY, Tuesday, April 2, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's annual tribute to Teddy
Roosevelt--the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-olds colts and
geldings--wrapped up Tuesday night. At $67,200, it was the Raceway's richest
event of the season to date.
That fun factoid was good news for Pancetta (Brian Sears), who sat an antsy
pocket, then rolled by One Through Ten (Dave Miller) en route to a 1:53.1
victory.
Involved early from post position No. 3. Pancetta was able to avoid an early
break of pole-resident Hope Blue Chip (Larry Stalbaum) and sequester in behind
even-money favorite One Through Ten.
That one, the only perfect (3-for-3) participant in the prelims, found a :28.2
quarter-mile and :57.3 intermission. May Day (Jason Bartlett) was a tight
third, while Sly Ruler (Eric Goodell) tried it first-up.
One Through Ten dismissed that foe right around the 1:26 three-quarters, but
Pancetta was all dressed up with someplace to go. He extricated himself from
the pocket early to go after the leader.
One Through Ten was a length to the good turning for home, but Pancetta negated
that margin in a hurry. He took aim and took off, widening to 2½ lengths (:26.4
individual final quarter) in a season's-best effort. Third went to May Day, who
was beaten 7½ lengths, with Windsun Cointreau (Dan Dube)--coupled with Hope
Blue Chip--and Sly Ruler completed the cashers.
Hope Blue Chip, Casimir Longshot (Mark MacDonald) and Trip Hanover (George
Brennan) rounded out the order.
"Getting an inside draw helped, and sitting behind Dave's horse (One
Through Ten) was the perfect trip," Sears--who won Monday night's final of
the Petticoat Pacing Series with odds-on Fast and Fiesty--said. "This
horse has a tremendous turn of foot. He's been very good throughout the series
(2 wins, 2 seconds), especially tonight."
For Pancetta, a 4-year-old son of No Pan Intended California co-owned by
Sacramentans Richard Morita & David Yamada and trained by Brandon Todd, he
returned $5.10 (second choice) for his third win in seven seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $8.60, the triple returned $31.20 and the superfecta paid $64.
A $25,000 series consolation was won by A Bettor World (Brennan, $5.20) in
1:55.2.
Tuesday's card also included a win-at-first-asking by Bakken (Brent Holland,
$6.80). The 3-year-old No Pan Intended gelding, who we suspect may have been
named for the former St. Louis Cardinals place kicker, won the $15,000,
fifth-race pace in 1:56.4.
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.
