BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Monday, May 15,
2017—Nine 3-year-old gentlemen—six colts and three geldings—have been entered
for Yonkers Raceway’s 27th Art Rooney Pace.
The number of entrants means
there’s a game of musical chairs this Saturday night (May 20th),
as in nine in a $40,000 elimination paring down to the eight finalists.
That octet is set to return week from Saturday (May 27th) for the
$300,000 final.
This season’s Rooney is led by
Downbytheseaside. The son of Somebeachsomewhere is a world record-holder as the
fastest frosh (1:50 at Delaware, OH) ever over a half-mile oval. His life-best
1:49 Red Mile effort matched the world record for 2-year-olds at the two-turn
mile.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere has
won nine of his 14 career starts ($596,016), hitting the board in all of them.
He began his soph season with a 1:52.1 win in a ‘sloppy’ Pennsylvania Sire
Stakes event at the Meadows.
Brian Brown trains for co-owners
Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek Racing.
‘Seaside’ is the Saturday night’s back-of-the-bus number, starting from
post position No. 9.
The elim goes as the 8th
race, drew as such…
1-Funknwaffles (g), Brian Sears,
2-Miso Fast, Matt Kakaley, 3-Mac’s Jackpot (g), Jason Bartlett, 4- Summer Side,
Ray Schnittker, 5-Heaven’s Gait. Jordan Stratton, 6- Stealth Bomber, Brett
Miller, 7-Henry the Dragon, Montrell Teague, 8-Rollin’ About (g), Brent
Holland, 9-Downbytheseaside, Dave Miller.
The companion event, the 13th
edition of the Lismore, attracted 15 sophomore pacing fillies. Thus, a pair of
$20,000 elims are carded this Saturday, with the first four finishers in each
returning for the final ($140,770).
First elim (4rh race)…1-Ashlee’s
Spitfire, Dan Dube, 2- Rockette, Kakaley, 3- Caviart Ally, Andrew McCarthy, 4-
Tequila Monday-Brian Sears, 5-V String, McCarhty also listed (coupled with
Caviart Ally), 6- Planet Rock, Tim Tetrick, 7- Twist of Fate, Mark MacDonald,
8-Agent Q, Dave Miller.
Second elim (5th
race)…1-Big City Betty, Jim Marohn Jr., 2- Caviart Cherie, McCarthy, 3- World
Apart, Tetrick, 4- Gotthisone Hanover, George Brennan, 5-Ain’t Three OK, Sears,
6-Ideal Plan, Bartlett, 7-Warrawee Sunshine. McCarthy also listed.
(Story shall be updated with program changes).
