BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Monday, July 3, 2017—Yonkers
Raceway’s premier freshmenfest, the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, attracted 20
plebes for the 2017 edition.
Thus, there are a trio of, $25,000
elimination races this Saturday night (July 8th), with the first two
finishers in each—plus the two fastest third-place finishers—returning for the
$110,500 finale a week from Saturday night.
The Sheppard, named for the man behind
breeding behemoth Hanover Shoe Farms, has its three elims going as races 4,5
and 6.
Quite a few of these first-season
gentlemen have already shown promise.
The second division includes Wild Bill
(Ray Schnittker, 5), a winner at first asking (1:53.1) in Pennsylvania All
Stars event (Pocono) this past Sunday night. The son of Somebeachsomewhere
looks to his give his trainer/driver a second consecutive (Summer Side)
Sheppard victory.
Down from Ottawa is Kwik Talkin’ (Jordan
Stratton, post 2), a Well Said colt who is 2-for-2 to begin his career.
Another set of winners landed in the third
elim, with Paprike Blue Chip (Corey Callahan, post 1) and Lucky Leonard
(Schnittker, post 7). The former, a Roll with Joe gelding, won a Pocono
overnight in 1:54.2, while the latter—a Well Said colt—won a PA All Star event
in 1:55.1.
The first
division finds America’s Guest (Brett Miller, post 3), raced-timed in 1:53 in
his purse debut across the river.
Saturday
night’s dozen-race dossier (post time 7:10 PM) also includes the requisite
$55,000 Open Handicaps, with Luck Be Withyou (Brian Sears) and Awsome Valley
(Jason Bartlett) in their respective eight-hole for the Pace (8th
race) and Trot (9th race).
