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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

YONKERS HOSTS 202G NYSS JIM CRAWFORD PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, August 19, 2014 – Yonkers Raceway Tuesday night hosted the $202,599 New York Sire Stakes Jim Crawford Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Three divisions -- at $67,933, $67,933 and $66,933 -- comprised the competition.

As was the case Monday night, driver Yannick Gingras won two of the evening’s three sire stakes events.

In the second division, he went the distance—from post position No. 4--with Cartoon Daddy ($4.90), holding off some unwanted advances from 32-1 proposition American Crossroad (Scott Zeron). The former kept the latter at bay, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.4. Berkley (George Brennan), at 78-1, was third, with 51-1 Ultimate G (Eric Carlson) fourth.

Cartoon Daddy’s job was made much easier when 7-10 fave The Spy (Tim Tetrick) broke in the first turn and division points leader coming into the night Americanprimetime (Tyler Buter) misbehaved while making a second move.

For second choice Cartoon Daddy, a son of Art Major co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Joe DiScala Jr., it was his fourth win in a half-dozen seasonal starts.  The exacta paid $53.50, the triple returned $887 and the superfecta paid $6,937.

“The best thing about him is his gait,” DiScala said. “We wanted a horse who could get around the small tracks, and he’s been very impressive.”

Gingras and Bet You ($2.80) won the final statebred grouping, moving to the lead (from post No. 2) before the half and closing it out in 1:55.1.  The final margin was a wrapped-up length-and-three-quarters over 25-1 Yippity Hanover (Tetrick), with 42-1 Betting Exchange (Jim Morrill Jr.) third. A breaking K Ryan Bluechip eliminated himself as the second choice.

For  Bet You, a son of Bettor’s Delight trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners Christina Takter, Jim & John Fielding and Joyce McClelland, he’s now 2-for-5 in ’14, with both wins coming here. The exacta paid $44.40, with the triple returning $390.

“Ideally, you’d like to race these 2-year-olds out of a hole, but the way the races shaped up, I had no choice but to put them on the lead,” Gingras said. “Cartoon Daddy tends to wait on other horses a bit, but he dug in when he had to.”  
            
The evening’s first division saw a formful favorite in Southwind Masimo (Pat Lachance, $2.60) roll off cover to run his record to four wins in as many starts. From post No. 5, he tracked Azorean Art (Larry Stalbaum), then blew past that one to widen out by 2¼ lengths in 1:55.1. Dee’s Rocketman (Brian Sears) was third.

For “Masimo,” a Bettor’s Delight colt trained by his driver for co-owners Hudson Standardbred Stable and Conrad Leber, he took over the points lead in this division. The exacta paid $12.60, with the triple returning $66.50.   

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.