BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, July 19, 2014—In the Arsenal (Eric Goodell) never had an anxious
moment, Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $125,000 final of Lawrence B.
Sheppard Pace.
The
Sheppard—named for the man who helped make Hanover Shoe Farms the sport’s
leading breeding operation—is the Raceway’s premier event for “open” 2-year-old
colts and geldings (though none of the latter were in this season’s
final).
In the Arsenal,
who broke his maiden with last weekend’s 1:56.2 elimination win, was in play
early here from post position No. 2. He left, as did pole-sitting Rock N’ Roll
World (Eric Carlson), Perfect Bet (Jeff Dauplaise) and a wide 2-5 favorite
Cartoon Daddy (George Brennan).
However, the
first turn did not cooperate with last week’s other elim winner, as Cartoon
Daddy broke. In the Arsenal found a
:27.4 opening quarter-mile, then somnambulated through a 1:01 middle half
(:58.3, 1:28.4). Parklane Eagle (Jordan Stratton), the 83-1 rank outside, hung
around first-up, with Lone Survivor (Brian Sears) went three-deep.
In the Arsenal, with the field at his feet, opened 2¾ lengths
in and out of the final turn. A pocketed Rock N’ Roll World cosmetically cut
the final margin down to three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4. Third went to a
stubborn Parklane Eagle, with Lone Survivor and Byby Landon (Jason Bartlett)
settling for the final two pay envelopes.
Mystical Pacer (Brent Holland), Perfect Bet and Cartoon Daddy
rounded out the order.
For second
choice In the Arsenal, a White Birch Farm homebred son of American Ideal
trained by Kelvin Harrison, he returned $6.30 for his second (consecutive) win
in three seasonal/career starts. The exacta paid $101.50, with the triple
returning $983.
The $62,500
payday increased his earnings to $75,000…not bad for a colt who came back to
White Birch after his reserve price was not met at sale.
“(In the
Arsenal) dragged me out of there really good,” Goodell said. “I went faster
than I wanted to go early, but he was able to relax after that.
“I had no idea
the other horse (Cartoon Daddy) made a break. I was just worried about mine and
things worked out.” Goodell also won the $44,000 Open Handicap Pace with Dream
Out Loud N ($9.70) in 1:51.4, with a :54.4 back half.
This season’s edition was the richest final since 1995 (note race went on
hiatus from 2004-2011, inclusive).
An
historical note…it was a half-century ago that the great Bret Hanover and Frank
Ervin won the very first Sheppard. The purse was $57,622 and the time was
2:02.1.
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 daily.
