BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 4,
2015—Yonkers Raceway offered up Round 3 of the George Morton Levy Memorial
Pacing Series Saturday night. Four, $50,000 divisions featured 30 of the best
Free-For-Allers, with last season’s winner emerging as this season’s target.
Odds-on P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett,
$3.20), from post position No. 2, outsprinted Lucan Hanover (Tim Tetrick) in
the first event, winning out of the pocket by a half-length in 1:51.2 (early
intervals of :27.1, :56 and 1:23.2). It was four
lengths back to 104-1 McErlean (Tyler Buter) in third.
For P H Supercam, an 8-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeff Bamond Jr., it was his fifth win in eight seasonal starts (3-for-3 in this series). The exacta paid $9.70, with the triple returning $216. The mile was a season’s-best effort.
“Ideally, you want to win while at the
same time, not use the horse very hard,” Bartlett said. “I’ve been fortunate
with him thus far.”
The second event was a sharp, first-up
effort from veteran statebred Domethatagain (Dan Dube, $24). Sitting a chilly
fourth from post No. 4, the 11-1 proposition engaged 3-5 choice Bettor’s Edge
(Yannick Gingras) after that one laid down the law through fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.
Domethatagain,
despite drifting wide through the final turn and early in the lane, put away
the leader. He then defeated a pocketed Sapphire City (Bartlett) by a
half-length in 1:53.2. National Debt (Eric Carlson) was a second-over third,
with Bettor’s Edge fading to fourth.
For fourth choice Domethatagain, a
6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer)
Rene Allard, Bob Hamather and Bruce Soulsby, it was his first board finish in
four ’15 tries. The exacta paid exacta paid $84.50, with triple returning $529
Saturday’s third Levy grouping was won
by a draw-winning/pocket-protecting Fat Man’s Alley (Bartlett, $13.40) in
1:53.4, Stinging 13-10 choice Foiled Again (Gingras), he then released harness
racing’s richest-ever horse after a :27.3 opening
quarter-mile.
It was a
57-second intermission before Polak A (Brian Sears)—a winner in his first two
series/stateside tries, moved from third. The two slugged it out passing a
1:25.2 three-quarters, but neither was going to be around when it counted.
Foiled Again was
done off the final turn, but not before carrying Fat Man’s Alley where he
needed to go. It was “Fat Man” whipping a two-move Michael’s Power (Dube) by a
length, with Texican N (Carlson) a ground-saving third and Mach’s Beach Boy
(Pat Lachance) fourth.
Foiled Again
faded to fifth, while Polak A wound up seventh.
For fourth choice Fat Man’s Alley, a
7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned by Bamond Racing and trained by
Jeffrey Bamond Jr., it was his second win in six seasonal starts. The exacta
paid $79, the triple returning $626 and the superfecta paid $2,043.
As for Foiled Again, “He just wasn’t
himself,” Gingras said. “When Polak A came up alongside, he didn’t grab the bit
and fight the way he always does. I’m sure (trainer) Ronnie (Burke) can figure
it out. He’s bounced back from these efforts before. I’ve learned never to
count him out.
“Hopefully, we see the real Foiled Again
next week.”
The evening’s final series event saw
Take it Back Terry (George Brennan, $7.60), prevail from the two-hole in a
season’s-best 1:51.2….and matching P H Supercam for fastest local effort of
2015. Leaving from post No. 2, “Terry” beat a first-up Beach Memories (Dube) by
a neck. Third went to 11-10 choice Dancin’ Yankee (Brett Miller), who tired on
the lead (:26.4, :55.3, 1:23.1). Heez Orl Black N
(catch-driver Gingras) was fourth.
Ironically, the
winner was trained by Burke, as was the runner-up—2-for-2 in the series coming
in—before that one’s exodus (to trainer Scott DiDomenico).
For second
choice Take it Back Terry, a 6-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned (as
Burke Racing) by (trainer) Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Larry Karr and Phil
Collura, it was his third win in 11 ’15 tries. The exacta paid $46.40, the
triple returned $103 and the superfecta paid $1,027.
Series
standings, through third leg…1-P H Supercam (225 points), 2-Beach Memories
(200), 3t-Michael’s Power (175), 3t-Polak A (175), 5-Fat Man’s Alley (150),
6-Sapphire City (137), 7-Domethatagain (135), 8-Bettor’s Edge (133).
Note that since
no one took Saturday night’s Pick 5, Monday’s gimmick begins with a carryover
of $4,529.90 ($10,000 guaranteed pool).
The Raceway’s live season continues
Monday night (post time 7:10 PM), a French-centric Tuesday (1 PM), then
Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 PM, with Matchmaker and Levy series
continuing Fridays and Saturdays). Afternoon simulcasting available daily (none
Easter Sunday).
