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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

YR - TEN ENTER 58TH MESSENGER STAKES; LADY MAUD ATTRACTS 14



BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
           
            YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, October 22, 2013--A total of 10 3-year-olds--eight colts and two geldings--were entered for Yonkers Raceway's Messenger Stakes, final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown. The 58th Messenger offers a total purse of $530,000.

            The number means the event--final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown--necessitated eliminations for the first time since 2007. A pair of $40,000 elims (races 6 and 7 on the 13-race card) go this Saturday, with the first four finishers in each returning for the Saturday, Nov. 2, final, worth its guaranteed $450,000 purse.

            First elim (with declared drivers)...1-Lonewolf Currier (Brian Sears), 2-Dedi's Dragon (George Brennan), 3-Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras), 4-Ronny Bugatti (Brennan also listed), 5-Good Day Mate (Sears also listed)

            Second elim (with declared drivers)   ...1-Lucan Hanover (Dave Miller), 2-Bet the Moon (Brennan), 3-Twilight Bonfire (Ron Pierce), 4-Odds On Equuleus (Sears), 5-Word Power (Brennan also listed)

            Lucan Hanover and Ronny Bugatti are the geldings.

            The companion event, the $218,684 Lady Maud Pace, attracted 14 3-year-old fillies. It, too, requires eliminations--two, $20,000 races (Nos. 4 and 5) this Saturday--with the first four in each returning for the $178,684 final, also Saturday, Nov. 2.

            First elim (with declared drivers)...1-Somwherovrarainbow (Sears), 2-Social Scene (Brennan), 3-Charisma Hanover (Gingras) 4-Handsoffmycupcake (Dan Dube), 5-Parlee Beach (Brennan also listed), 6-Zinderella (Jordan Stratton) and 7-Certified Ideal  (Jim Pantaleano). Note that Social Scene and Parlee Beach shall race as a Casie Coleman-trained (part-owner of Social Scene) entry.

            Second elim (with declared drivers)...1-Live Entertainment (Pierce), 2-Scandalous Hanover (Dave Miller), 3-Aunt Caroline (Scott Zeron), 4-Jerseylicious (Corey Callahan), 5-Antigua Hanover (Jason Bartlett), 6-Summertime Lea (Brennan) and 7-Bettor Think Twice (Tim Tetrick).

            Scandalous Hanover was a $15,000 supplemental entrant. 

            Note that program changes for Saturday's card are to made Wednesday morning.

            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.