BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, April 18, 2015—No one knows if P H Supercam actually bowls, but he
did complete a perfect game Saturday night.
Last
season’s defending series champ was this season’s only perfect
preliminary-round participant in Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial
Pacing Series. Thus, his score is 300, as in 50 points for each of his four
series wins and 25 points for each of his four series appearances.
As a
result of his late-frame heroics in the second of Round 5’s three divisions. P
H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) become harness racing’s newest millionaire.
Starting
from post position No. 5 after getting last week off, P H Supercam settled
fourth, in front of longshot National Debt (Eric Carlson). He saw Lucan Hanover
(Tim Tetrick), who was rebuffed by Clear Vision at the half a week ago, get
stung by that one here. It was Clear Vision (George Brennan) forcing “Lucan”
into a brisk, :26.4 opening quarter-mile.
After
a :56.3 intermission, 8-5 choice Beach Memories (Dan Dube) move from third,
while “Supercam” was content to sit and watch. Lucan Hanover maintained the
advantage in and out of the 1:24.2 three-quarters, but Beach Memories was
continuing to invade.
Meanwhile,
P H Supercam, minding his business until now, decided to slip out. He went wide
and snapped a stubborn Lucan Hanover late, winning by a head in 1:52.3. Third
went to a pocketed Clear Vision, with National Debt fourth and Beach Memories
fifth.
For
P H Supercam, an 8-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding owned by Bamond Racing
and trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., it was his sixth win in nine seasonal starts
(career 45-for-163 with earnings of $1,012,291). The exacta paid $25, with the
triple returning $102.50.
“He’s
as good now as he’s ever been,” Bartlett said. “Tonight, I saw the leaders
getting tired and I thought I had a shot to go in the passing lane. In the end,
I figured it was safer just to move him outside.
“Last
season, he had to earn the respect. This season, he has it.”
Odds-on
choice Take it Back Terry (George Brennan, $3.40) was both hard-used and solid
in the final series prelim event. Seemingly disinterested in leaving
until he saw Windsong Song (Brian Sears) with the same idea, “Terry” then whistled
around Westchester :26.4, :55.3, 1:23.4, 1:51.4).
Domethatgain
(Dube) was a second-choice second, beaten 1¾ lengths, with Texican N (Carlson)
third.
For
"Terry," a 6-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and
Phil Collura, he's now 5-for-13 this season (3-for-4 in series). The
exacta paid $6.20, with the triple returning $72.50.
The
evening’s opening series event was handily won by a first-up favorite Mach it
So (Tetrick, $5.20) in 1:52.4. From post No. 4, Mach it So saw a retaking Heez
Orl Black N (Shaun Vallee) lead through soft early intervals of :27.1 and :57.2.
However, he couldn’t stave off Mach it So, who, moving from fourth, was up,
over and gone (1:24.2, 1:52.4).
The
final margin was a length-and-a-quarter over Dancin’ Yankee (Brett Miller),
with Polak A (Sears) third.
For
Mach it So, a 5-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Bamond Jr. for owner
Bamond Racing, it was his first win in five '15 tries. The exacta paid
$24.80, with the triple returning $113.50.
Series
standings, through all five preliminary rounds…1-P H Supercam (300 points),
2-Take it Back Terry (275), 3-Beach Memories (230), 4-Mach it So (229), 5-Fat
Man’s Alley (220), 6-Domethatagain (218), 7t-Lucan Hanover, Polak A and
Windsong Jack (212).
Note the
three-way “dead-heat” for seventh, which has to be broken by lot. Also note
that these are not necessarily the finalists. The determination of the field
shall be made by the race office based upon series rules regarding multiple
horses for owner and/or trainer (if applicable after review)
Finals for the Blue Chip Matchmaker (purse
$261,000) and George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series ($529,000) are set for
Saturday, Apr. 25—the two richest North American races of the season to
date--and are to be drawn Tuesday morning (Apr. 21)
Saturday
night’s $42,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by 2013 Yonkers Trot champ
Dewycolorintheline (Jordan Stratton, $20.20) in 1:57.
The Raceway’s live season continues
Monday night (post time 7:10 PM), a French-centric Tuesday (1 PM, third round
of YR/SOA of NY Bonus Trotting Series), then Thursday through Saturday (all at
7:10 PM). Evening simulcasting available around all nighttime programs, with
afternoon simulcasting daily.
