BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, May 20, 2017—World
champion Downbytheseaside (Dave Miller, $3.10) was as odds-on advertised
Saturday night (May 20th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s lone $40,000
elimination for the 27th Art Rooney Pace for 3-year-olds.
Starting from the second tier in the
nine-to-get-to-eight foray, Downbytheseaside found himself three-wide at the
half in a race that had much more movement than expected. Last season’s
Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace winner, Summer Side (Ray Schnittker), made the first
lead, stuffing Stealth Bomber (Brent Holland) in behind before a :28.1 opening
quarter-mile.
However, Stealth Bomber wanted to no part
of the pocket. That one made the lead, with last season’s New York Sire Stakes
champion Funknwaffles (Brian Sears) and ‘Seaside’ in hot pursuit.
Downbytheseaside fronted the fray right at
the :55.4 intermission, than continued toward a 1:24.3 three-quarters. Stealth Bomber
then moved again, vacating a three-hole in front of Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley).
Downbytheseaside opened a coupled of
lengths in and out of the final turn, winning by a length-and-a-quarter in
1:52.2. Miso Fast snapped Stealth Bomber for second, with Summer Side and Mac’s
Jackpot (Jason Bartlett) rounding out the payees.
Funknwaffles tired to sixth, with Henry
the Dragon (Montrell Teague) and rank outsider Rollin’ About (Brent
Holland) also earning invites to next Saturday night’s (May 27th)
$300,000 final. Heaven’s Gait (Jordan Stratton) made a filthy break passing the
three-quarters, winding up last and not making the finale.
For
Downbytheseaside, a son of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Brian Brown for
co-owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek
Racing, it was his second win in as many season starts (career 10-for-15). The
exacta paid $7.70, the triple returned $57 and the superfecta paid $341.50.
“I was pleased with the race,” Miller
said. “I had to use him some early and ran in a bit in the turns, but we can
work on that before the final.”
Miller began his evening drilling seven
inside rivals (:28.4, :59.1, 1:27.4, 1:55.1) with
Agent Q ($6.80) in the first of two, $20,000 elims for the Lismore (3-year-old
pacing fillies).
Last season’s NYSS frosh champ, even-money
choice Tequila Monday (Sears), wound up second from second-over, with Caviart
Ally (Andrew McCarthy) a first-up third. Ashlee’s Spitfire (Dan Dube), at 50-1
the longest shot on the board, was fourth. That quartet returns for next
Saturday night’s $140,770 final.
“Handy,” was Miller’s succinct description
of his date.
For second choice Agent Q, a daughter of
Western Terror co-owned by Martin Scharf, Rochetti Racing and Robert
Muscara, she’s now 2-for-2 this season
The second elimination for the Lismore,
complete with no show wagering, saw the reason for same—3-10 favorite Ain’t
Three OK (Sears)—jump it off in the first turn and trail throughout.
Pole-sitting Big City Betty (Jim Marohn
Jr., $21.60) went the distance (:28.3, :58.1, 1:27,
1:55.2), whipping
Gotthisone Hanover (George Brennan) by 2¼ lengths in a two-speed number.
Warrawee Sunshine (Miller) was a ground-saving third as the 29-1 longshot, with
Caviart Cherie (McCarthy) fourth and back for the final.
For third choice ‘Betty,’ a Bettor’s
Delight miss co-owned by (trainer) Steve Salerno and Bruce Potter, it was her
second win three ’17 tries. The exacta paid $149, with the triple returning
$965.
“This filly has a quick turn of speed, but
she has the manners of an older horse,” Marohn said. “I never even saw what
happened with Brian’s (Sears’) horse (Ain’t Three OK), but mine was very
comfortable.”
The open draw for both stakes finals takes
place Monday afternoon (May 22nd).
Saturday night’s pair of $55,000 Open
Handicaps were won by…
--Trot, Red Hot Herbie (Dan Dube, $19.60)
in 1:55.3;
--Pace, Mach it So (Holland, $7.90) in
1:51.2.
