BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, May 21,
2015—Yonkers Raceway Thursday night hosted its first New York Stakes crowd of
the season, the $163,375 Michael Sorentino Trot for 3-year-old colts and
geldings.
Three divisions, worth $54,125, $55,125
and $54,125, respectively, comprised the event, which honored the memory of the
long-time popular horse owner (with family in attendance for winner’s circle
presentations).
There’s no way to sugar coat this…chalk
players were accorded the chalk outline, as all three odds-on entities failed
to deliver on their puny parimutuel promises.
The opening event saw last season’s frosh
statebred champion, Crazy Wow (Yannick Gingras)—at 1-20—jump it off in the
second turn after making the lead. When the stone dust settled, it was 26-1
Royal Deceptor (Mickey McGivern, $55.50), pocketed from post position No. 3,
nipping Mythology Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) by a nose in a life-best 1:58 (:29.1, :59.2, 1:28.3). Insomniac
(Mark MacDonald) cut the mile and faded to third, beaten a neck. Crazy Wow
finished fourth.
For third choice Royal Deceptor, a son of
RC Royalty trained by Cheryl McGivern for co-owners Charles Foster, Michael
James and Michael Sentiwany Jr., it was his fourth win in five seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $150, with the triple returned $614.
“He was very good early last season, but
they sort of caught up to him,” Mickey McGivern said. “He’s just a lunch pail
sort of horse, keeps trying and keeps working.”
The second sire stakes grouping found 3-5
choice Habitat (Gingras), with a NYSS and Dexter Cup win already on his resume,
also do the dance of the damned. His malfeasance occurred entering the first
turn. That left Military Blue (Mike Simons) leading the gang (:28.3, :58.2, 1:27.3) before his night
was over.
Buen Camino
(Trond Smedshammer) took over from first-over, only to get snapped on the money
by 31-1 proposition Workout Wonder (Dan Dube, $65.50). Leaving from post No. 4,
the margin—another nose—was in 1:56.3, far and away a career-best effort. Wings of Royalty
(Brian Sears) was third, with Apostle’s Creed (Brett Miller) fourth. Habitat
was last among the seven.
For fifth choice Workout Wonder, a Conway
Hall colt co-owned by All Laid Out Stable and trained by Ake Svanstedt, it was
his first win in three ’15 tries. The exacta paid $234.50, the triple returned
$743 and the superfecta paid $4,789.
The evening’s final NYSS event found 3-10
Maestro Blue Chip (Smedshammer) carrying the water for the rank and file. He
disposed of Royal Becca J (Jack Parker Jr.) after the one’s early lead (:29.2, :58.2), then widened after a
1:28.2 three-quarters.
“Maestro” had
three lengths in and out of the final turn, only to get that run-down feeling
from The Physician (George Brennan, $15.20). The latter, from post No. 5,
whipped the former by a neck in a life-best 1:58.1, with Royal Lad (Simons)
third.
For The
Physician, a Credit Winner gelding trained by Anette Lorentzon for
co-owners Acl Stuteri Ab and Kjell Johansson, he’s now 2-for-3 this season. The
exacta paid $33.80, with the triple returning $107.
With longshots ruling the night in the
sire stakes—comprising 60 percent of the Pick 5 races, no one took down the
pool. Thus, Friday’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $4,675.35 (50-cent
base wager, races 7 through 11).
The Raceway’s live season continues Friday
and Saturday nights (post times 7:10 PM), with Saturday offering a pair of
$40,000 eliminations of the Art Rooney Pace. After that, it’s Monday (7:10 PM),
Tuesday (1 PM, finals of both Jackpot Next Door Claiming Series division), then
Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 PM). Evening simulcasting accompanies
all night programs (no live racing/evening simulcasting June 3-12, inclusive).
Afternoon simulcasting is available daily, including June 6 Belmont
Stakes
