BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Thursday, July 17, 2014—The Empire’s best 3-year-old colts and geldings—save
for He’s Watching—invaded Yonkers Raceway Thursday night for the $221,000 New
York Sire Stakes Armand Palatucci Pace.
The odds-on
gelding Twin B Tenacious (Steve Smith, $3.90) won the first ($72,800) division
from second-over. Unhurried from the pole, “Tenacious” chased Twin B Speedo
(Mark MacDonald) through intervals of :27.2, :58 and 1:25.4.
“Speedo” swung wide and whipped the leader by a half-length
in 1:54. Third went to Keystone Honor (Matt Kakaley).
Smith is now 4-for-4 since picking up the drive behind Twin B
Tenacious.
“To be honest, I had the drive the first time (Meadowlands)
when a lot of the guys were out of town,” Smith said. “He had some chicken
lines (breaks) previously, and has doesn’t always relax.
“I learned you have to let him settle, but when I’ve asked
him, he’s finished very well.
Twin
B Tenacious, a son of Bettor’s Delight trained by Casie Coleman for owner West
Wins Stable, is 4-for-8 this season. The exacta paid $12, with the triple
returning $114.
The second
($74,100) statebred event was supposed to be fairly simple work night for Art
Rooney Pace winner All Bets Off (Kakaley). However, despite a perfect tow from
entrymate I’m All Heart (George Brennan), the 1-5 tandem found themselves run
over.
Capital Account
(Yannick Gingras, $35.80), third-over from post position No. 4, snapped All
Bets Off by a half-length in 1:52.4. Big Boys Dreams (Jason Bartlett) was
third.
Fifth choice
Capital Account, a Brittany Farms homebred American Ideal colt trained by Jimmy
Takter, is now 4-for-11 this season. The exacta paid $76, with the triple
returning $336.50.
“This was his
best race so far,” Gingras said. “Sometimes, he’s been known to throw in steps,
but tonight, this worked out. When I saw Matt (Kakaley) working (on All Bets
Off), I knew I had him beat.
“The last time
he was here (NYSS last month), he was locked in. If I had come first-up, he’d
have won but I had to use him leaving. It was a much better trip tonight.”
Thursday night’s
final ($74,100) sires soiree saw Forty Five Red (Brennan, $22.60)—last season’s
winner of the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace here—make the lead right at the half
and hold sway. Forty Five Red, from post No. 4, took over from Sir Jake’s Z Tam
(Jordan Stratton) after that one’s :27.3 opening quarter-mile.
After a :56.3 intermission, it was a 1:24.1
three-quarters and a season’s-best 1:52.3 finale, which found Forty Five Red a
length better than Winds of Change (Tim Tetrick). Neat (Marcus Miller) was
third, while 1-2 choice Stay Up Late (Brian Sears) was a never-in-it dead-heat
for fifth.
Forty Five Red, a son of If I Can Dream co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Our Horse Cents Stable, has won his last
couple after beginning the season 0-for-6. The exacta paid $133, with the
triple returning $379.50.
“Last week (overnight here), he was all out to win and just
didn’t race well,” Brennan said. “Tonight, I scored him down much harder
he was a totally different horse…on the bit and alert.”
Forty Five Red’s winning time Thursday was more than two
seconds faster than his previous effort.
After Saturday
night’s $125,000 final of the Sheppard Pace (2-year-old colts/geldings), New
York Sire Stakes continue Tuesday night, with the $200,200 Clyde Hirt Pace for
2-year-old fillies colts and geldings. Four, $50,050 groupings go as races
2,4,5 and 6.
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
