BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, January 19,
2016—Proving he’s not quite ready to join AARP—that’s the American Association
of Retired Pacers—14-year-old Sakra Fella (Scott Zeron, $66.50) showed a group
of youngins what for, winning Yonkers Raceway’s Tuesday matinee opener.
Sakra Fella closed from fourth through the
lane in the $6,500 opener to whip pace-setting 2-5 favorite Arthur (Matt
Kakaley) by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1. Combined with an earlier win
at Monticello, the Pacific Fella gelding is now 2-for-3 this season as the
one-horse stable of Dolores and Carl Dobkowski.
Mr. Dobkowski, the trainer since Day One,
turns 91 next month.
Sakra Fella had gone winless is limited
work (10 starts) over the previous two seasons and has never won more than
twice in a year since 2008, when he made 38 starts. As was pointed out by more
than one shrewd observer, Sakra Fella’s local race lines predate Yonkers’ “slot
era,” beginning with a qualifier in February, 2005.
