BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, May 26, 2015—In the
Arsenal, already with a Yonkers Raceway open stakes wins to his credit, drew
post position No. 2 for Saturday night’s $300,000 Art Rooney Pace.
The 25th edition of the Rooney,
one of the sport’s premier events for the 3-year-old male pacers, goes as the
fourth of 12 races (first post 7:10 PM, approximate post for Rooney 8:15 PM).
Brian Sears drives In the Arsenal, a son
of American Ideal trained by Kelvin Harrison for co-owners (breeder) White
Birch Farm and In the Arsenal Racing. The colt won the second of last
weekend’s two elimination races, defeating Rock N’ Roll World by a head in
1:53.1. In the Arsenal has won eight of his 13 career races and $431,843,
making him the richest of the octet the final.
He first gained prominence last summer,
winning the $125,000 Lawrence B. Sheppard, the Raceway’s premier event for
2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Last week’s other elim winner, Sonofa
Sizzle (1:52.1), wasn’t as fortunate with the open draw. He landed behind the
eight-ball with George Brennan picking up the assignment for trainer Josh
Green. Sears drove the son of Life Sizzles a week ago.
The field for the Rooney Pace…1-Rock N’
World (Dan Dube), 2-In the Arsenal (Brian Sears), 3-Arque Hanover (Jason
Bartlett), 4-National Seelster (Andy Miller), 5-Betting Exchange (Dave Miller),
6-Bet You (Brett Miller), 7-Cartoon Daddy (Yannick Gingras), 8-Sonofa Sizzle
(George Brennan).
Note that In the Arsenal and Betting
Exchange shall race as a common-ownership entry.
Saturday night’s undercard is led by the
companion event, the $117,724 Lismore for 3-year-old pacing fillies (6th
race, approximate post 9 PM).
The half-dozen lasses…1-Strut My Stuff
(Jordan Stratton), 2-Bedroomconfessions (Sears), 3-Totally Rusty (Bartlett),
4-Sassa Hanover (Gingras), 5-Purrfect Bags (Tim Tetrick), 6-Special
Package (Brennan).
Note Strut My Stuff and Totally Rusty race
as a (common-ownership) entry, with the latter of $15,000 supplemental entrant.
Changes (if any) to these races are to be
made Wednesday morning.
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