BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 15, 2017—The
time to impress the judges concluded Saturday night (Apr. 15th),
with preliminary-round competition ending for Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton
Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Round 5 saw three, $50,000 divisions go at
it.
Favored Somewhere in L A (Jason Bartlett,
$4.10) became the sport’s newest millionaire, easily winning the third event in
front-end fashion. From post position No. 5, he never had any angst, especially
after a cheapy half (:28.,
56.4, 1:24.3, 1:51.3).
The final
margin was a length-and-a-quarter over a second-up Clear Vision (Brett Miller),
with Guantanamo Bay (Scott Zeron) lasting for an uncovered third. All Bets Off
(Matt Kakaley) and tiring-pocket Wakazashi Hanover (Tim Tetrick) settled for
the remainder.
For Somewhere
in L A, a 6-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Richard Banca for
co-owners D’elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P and Gandolfo Stables,
it was his sixth win in a 13 seasonal starts (2-for-5 in series). The exacta
paid $22.20, with the triple returning $95.
As mentioned
at the outset, Somewhere in L A is now a career seven-figure performer
($1,022,456).
"I thought I might
have an easy lead," Bartlett said. "He deserved it, he's been used hard
a lot throughout the series.
“He can get bit rank sometimes, but he was very good tonight. The fractions
certainly helped.”
Defending series champ Bit of a Legend N
(Jordan Stratton, $4.40) threw down the gauntlet for next week finale, going
down the road from the pole (:27.1,
56.1, 1:25, 1:51.3) as the people’s choice in the night’s second event.
After
stuffing Rockin’ Ron (Yannick Gingras) in behind, he whipped that rival by
three-quarters of a length (note the :26.3 kicker), while Blood Brother
(Bartlett) was a first-up third. Great Vintage (Mark MacDonald) and Missile J
(Tetrick) earned the minors, with Missile J—already with three series win in
his pocket—getting a ‘don’t get hurt’ trip from his outer venue.
For Bit of a
Legend N, an 8-year-old Down Under son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Harry
von Knoblauch and trained Peter Tritton, it was his second win in seven
seasonal starts (2-for-5 in series). The exacta (two wagering favorites)
paid $7.30, with the triple returning $34.20.
"Two weeks ago
(winning), I could see he was his old self," Stratton said. "With the
final next week some guys drove conservatively.”
As far as any concern that his last quarter was too brisk a week before the
final, “No. He had a lot left.”
Saturday night’s first Levy grouping had a
first-over fave McWicked (Kakaley, $4.30), from post No. 2, edge past
pace-setting Caviart Luca (George Brennan) after that one’s intervals of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.4.
McWicked vacated the three-hole, engaged ‘Luca’
in and out of the final turn and prevailed by three-quarters of a length in
1:51.4 (again, note the :26.3 last quarter). First leader Mach it So (Tetrick)
held for third, with Santa Fe Beachboy (Barlett) and Provocativeprincen
(Stratton) getting the smaller change.
For McWicked,
an 6-year-old son of McArdle trained by Steve Elliott for owner S S G Stables,
he’s now 3-for-7 this season (1-for-5 in series). The exacta (two wagering
choices) paid $11.40, with the triple returning $34.40.
The final
preliminary standings, courtesy of Bob (OUTP) Miecuna, accompany this release.
Note that these do not necessarily represent those horses eligible for the next
Saturday’s (Apr. 22nd) final and consolation. Those determinations
shall be made by the race office, with the draw set for Monday afternoon (Apr.
17th).
The purse for
the final of the Levy has been calculated at $529,000 (sum of added money,
nominating and starting fees), pending conformation by those who keep track of
such things.
Saturday
night’s $55,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by Melady’s Monet (Miller, $6.10) in
1:54.4, fastest local mile of the season.
| George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series | |||||||||
| 2017 | April 15, 2017 | ||||||||
| Order | Name | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | 3rd Leg | 4th Leg | 5th Leg | 25 pts/start | Total | |
| 1 | Somewhere In L A | 12 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 50 | 125 | 287.0 | |
| 2 | Bit Of A Legend N | 25 | 25 | 50 | 5 | 50 | 125 | 280.0 | |
| 3 | Missile J | 50 | 50 | 50 | 5 | 100 | 255.0 | ||
| 4 | Keystone Velocity | 5 | 50 | 50 | 12 | 0 | 125 | 242.0 | |
| 5 | Mcwicked | 0 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 125 | 225.0 | |
| 6 | Soto | 50 | 12 | 50 | 8 | 100 | 220.0 | ||
| 7 | Blood Brother | 25 | 0 | 5 | 50 | 12 | 125 | 217.0 | |
| 8 | ProvacativeprinceN | 50 | 0 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 125 | 210.0 | |
| 9 | Rockin Ron | 25 | 50 | 8 | 25 | 100 | 208.0 | ||
| 10 | Mach It So | 12 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 12 | 125 | 187.0 | |
| 11 | Wakizashi Hanover | 8 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 125 | 183.0 | |
| 12 | Great Vintage | 0 | 5 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 125 | 175.0 | |
| 12 | Long Live Rock | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 175.0 | |
| 14 | Guantanamo Bay | 12 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 125 | 174.0 | |
| 15 | Caviart Luca | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 125 | 163.0 | |
