BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, July 13, 2013--Favorites Western Conquest (Brent
Holland, $3.70) and Stevensville (Jordan Stratton, $2.70) won their respective
$25,000 eliminations Saturday night, leading the octet for Yonkers Raceway's
Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
Western Conquest, from post position
No. 2, played leapfrog on the lead with Thereisapaceforus (Larry Stalbaum). the
people's preference took over right at a :29.1 opening quarter-mile. He then
held sway through subsequent sub-stations of :59.1, 1:28.3 and
(parimutuel-best) 1:56.4.
Thereisapaceforus held
second--beaten two lengths--with Gotta Laugh Again (Stratton) and a first-up
Goldin Parachute (Dan Dube) also earning invites to the final.
Western Conquest, a homebred (Tanah
Merah Farms) son of American Ideal trained by Erv Miller, is 2-for-2 to begin
his career. The exacta paid $7.20, with the triple returning $35.60.
Stevensville, who had shown wild
speed early, was nursed along from the pylons here. Third early (:29.2, 1:00.1)
to second-choice Forty Five Red (Dube), he methodically engaged the leader going
toward a 1:28.4 three-quarters.
Forty Five Red maintained a tenuous
lead entering the lane. but Stevensville would not go away. He prevailed by a
three-quarters of a length in 1:57, with Forty Five Red photoing 52-1 pocket-sitter
Great American (Holland) for second. A parimutuel-debuting Disarrei (Pat
Lachance) was fourth, earning his seat at the final table.
Stevensville, a son of
Somebeachsomewhere co-owned by his breeders (trainer) Ray Schnittker and
Charles Iannazzo, has three wins and a second in four frosh tries. The exacta
paid $5.l0, with the triple returning $28.80.
Saturday night's $46,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by a third-over American
Rage (Jim Pantaleano, $27.60), snapping 9-10 fave Malak Uswaad N (Eric Goodell)
on the money in 1:50.3...a tick off the fastest local mile of the season.
The final of the Sheppard, worth $111,250, goes next Saturday night, as do the
elims--if necessary--for Yonkers Trot.
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 (note that Belmont Park ends Sunday and
Saratoga opens Friday).
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