Bettor's Edge vs Western Joe on Saturday at The Meadowlands

East Rutherford, NJ - Bettor's Edge (Vic Kirby) and Western Joe (Jimmy Marohn, Jr) will continue their budding rivalry in Saturday's second race, a $20,000 Preferred Handicap pace. Five of the past six Preferred has seen one of the two come home a winner with "Joe" holding a 3-2 "Edge" over his counterpart. The pair drew for the outside here with Western Joe getting the better of it pulling post 5, just inside Bettor's Edge.

Western Joe has amassed $55,100 in just eight 2018 starts for owner Anthony Ruggeri on the strength of five winning efforts. Chris Choate trains the 4-year-old horse.

Bettor's Edge is at $41,150 and is 7 of 9 on the board this season for trainer Jennifer Lappe who shares ownership of the 9-year-old with Robert Santagata.

The wagering has been hot and heavy for the past several weeks with the horizontal wagers reaching new seasonal highs each week and the vertical Super Jackpot Hi-5 carry over is at $167,139 into Saturday's last race play.

Get free program pages for the Late Pick 4 and the Super Hi-5 here and handicapping tips from the house observers are also yours for a click.

Post time is 7:15 p.m.

KEYSTONE RIPTIDE UPSETS IN BIG M FEATURE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Friday night’s featured fillies and mares conditioned pace at the Meadowlands was supposed to be a battle between Delightful Dragon and Monica Gallagher, a pair of talented mares who were both seeking to win for a third consecutive start.

One problem: Keystone Riptide did not get the memo.

Sent off at odds of 14-1, Keystone Riptide was left uncovered for the final half-mile but won with ease nonetheless, inching past Monica Gallagher at the eighth pole before reporting home a safe 1¾-length winner in a lifetime-best 1:51. Monica Gallagher was second with Juxta Cowgirl third.

There was more action than expected in the seven-horse field as Juxta Cowgirl had the lead at the quarter, 2-5 favorite Delightful Dragon at the three-eighths and 7-2 second choice Monica Gallagher at the half.

That was the point in the race where Keystone Riptide was left first-over, but the Nik Drennan trainee kept chipping away at Monica Gallagher’s advantage around the far turn before overtaking that foe nearing the wire.

Delightful Dragon worked out a pocket trip, had room along the inside in deep stretch, but did not fire in a disappointing performance, finishing fifth.

Keystone Riptide, a 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, returned $30.80 to win. She was driven by Andy Miller and is owned by Joseph Davino, Patrick O’Brien and Brad Shackman. She’s won 13 of 56 lifetime and now has a bankroll of just over $200,000.

A LITTLE MORE: The Pick-4 pool, which reached a new 2018 high on Saturday, March 24 when over $127,000 was wagered, once again saw big action, as the third-highest pool of the year – $99,183 – was poured into the pot. … Favorites players were seen wearing out a path to cash tickets, as six post-time choices scored on the card, making it 13 winning chalks in the last 23 Big M races. … Brett Miller drove three winners on the card. … All-source wagering totaled $2,407,686. … The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five did not result in a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to $167,139. … Racing resumes Saturday at the Meadowlands at 7:15 p.m.

SHARTIN N HAT TRICK LEADS THIRD ROUND OF MATCHMAKER

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Friday, March 30, 2018—Yonkers Raceway deferred to the ladies for Good Friday and Passover (March 30^rd), offering the non-denominational third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.

Four, $40,000 events again brought together many of the best pacing mares.

First Division—A perfectly-pocketed Lakeisha Hall (George Brennan, $14.60) measured it off against 1-4 favorite L A Delight (Yannick Gingras).

The latter, away third from the pole, moved to the lead right at a 27-second opening quarter-mile. She then had a no-excuse middle half (:56.4, 1:25.4). Meanwhile, Lakeisha Hall, from post position No. 4, made a quick lead before finding her sequestered in the two-hole.

L A Delight owned a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane. However, former Kentucky Sire Stakes champ Lakeisha Hall edged out and edged past, winning by a half-length in 1:54.2. Medusa (Scott Zeron) was a best-of-the-rest, three-hole third.

For second choice Lakeisha Hall, a 5-year-old daughter of Third Straight co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Jack Piatt II, it was her first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $28.20, with the triple returning $88.50.

“Once I made the lead, I wanted to make (L A Delight) work,” Brennan said. “She had to go some in the first quarter, then not much, but my mare was sharp.

“I was kicking myself last week. It was one of the few times I picked off Ronnie (Burke) and she was very good. She was good again.”

Second Division—If Tim Tetrick has asked series leader Shartin N ($2.90) at any point during the first three weeks, he did it in private, as the femme fatale made it look simple again. Chilly early from post No. 2, she watched pole-sitting Lady Shadow (Jason Bartlett) take over from Scandalicious (Gingras). 

The intervals was soft enough (:28, :57.4) when Shartin N moved from fourth. She used a :27.2 third quarter (1:25.1) to dispose of Lady Shadow, taking a length-and-a-half lead in and out of the final turn. Shartin N finished it off by a length in 1:53.3, remaining the Matchmaker’s lone meticulous mare.

Safe from Terror (Jordan Stratton) lost her tow when the winner cleared, but continued well to be second. Eclipse Me N (Dan Dube) was third. 

For Shartin N, a 5-year-old Down Under daughter of Tintin in America co-owned by Richard Poillucci & Jo Anne Looney-King and trained by Jim King Jr., it was her seventh win (fourth consecutive) in eight ’18 tries. The exacta paid $10.60, with triple returning $47.20.

“She’s really versatile and learning to become an Americanized horse,” Tetrick said.

Apparently, she’s going to turn into a ‘slacker’ as well, as Mrs. King indicated Shartin N is getting next week’s fourth round off for good behavior. 

Third Division---Second-choice Twinkle (Eric Goodell, $4.80) played leapfrog with 13-10 fave Sell a Bit N (Stratton). Good thing, too, as the latter tired and the leader held sway.

Twinkle, from post No. 4, made the first lead, looping Sell a Bit N. The latter did take over before the :27.3 opening two furlongs. Twinkle left the cones to seize the initiative going into the second turn, finishing it off from there (:57.3, 1:25.2, season’s-best 1:54.1).

Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing), away third from the pole, came first-up and was a very good second, missing by three-quarters of length. Third went to Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum), with Sell a Bit N fading to fourth  

For Twinkle, a 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight co-owned by Dana Parham & Let it Ride Stables and trained by Ross Croghan, she’s 2-for-3 this season (and series) and won 13-of-15 career starts. The exacta paid $22.80, the triple returned $318.50 and the superfecta paid $1,035.

Fourth Division—For a second consecutive week, defending series victress Mackenzie A (Stratton, $3.10) was an off-the-pace beast.

Away sixth from post No. 6, she watched Newborn Sassy (Tetrick) leave around Call Me Queen Be (Zeron). Again, there’s wasn’t much early excitement (:27.4, :57.4), but no matter.

Mackenzie A was moving, and she nearly had an unwanted deterrent for yet another week. This time however, All About Madi (Bartlett), slipped back in after briefly coming out from third. That left Mackenzie A to engage Newborn Sassy in and out of a 1:26 three-quarters.

The leader was tough, but the challenger was tougher. Just about synchronized turning for home, Mackenzie A wore down Newborn Sassy by a half-length in 1:54.1. Call Me Queen Be wound up third.

For Mackenzie A, a 6-year-old Down Under Rock N Roll Heaven lass trained by Peter Tritton for co-owners Von Knoblauch Stables and Ellen Kinser, it was her second win in  three seasonal/series efforts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $13, with triple returning $65.50.

“She never disappoints me because she always show up,” Stratton said.

Saturday night (March 31^st) offers a quartet of $50,000 divisions of Free-for-Allers in the third round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

A reminder that there is no horse race wagering permitted in New York State Easter Sunday (Apr. 1^st), including the Raceway and Empire City Bets.

PAUL MINORE WINS THIRD LEG OF THE NAADA TROTTING SERIES WITH WYGANT PRINCE

by John Manzi, for NAADA

On an extremely foggy afternoon with intermittent rain falling in New York's southern Catskill Mountains Paul Minore sat a two-hole trip then rallied his old warhorse,Wygant Prince, to a neck victory in the third leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) trot at Monticello Raceway on Thursday March 29.

After starting from the pole position Minore parked Jennifer Lappe's Here Come Numbers around the first turn then allowed the 10-year-old gelding to take command as the field trotted by the first panel in :29.

“I didn't want Here Comes Numbers to take command with ease so I parked him a ways and then let Jennifer have the lead,” Minore related in the paddock after the race was over. “I figured I'd get a good two-hole trip behind her because her trotter was the betting favorite and had raced well in his recent starts.”

Once on top Lappe showed the way by the half in :59.2 with Wygant Prince tucked in tightly behind her trotter. As the seven-horse passed the third stanza in 1:30.1 Here Comes Numbers opened up daylight and he was 2-1/2 lengths in front as they headed for paydirt.

“She (Ms Lappe) got away a bit on the final turn but once we straightened for home my horse began to grind away at the leader and in the final strides we got up for a neck victory in 2:00.3.

Third place went to Connie Keeper , driven by Tony Verruso.

The race winner, an 11 year-old altered son of SJ's Photo, notched his third seasonal victory and the 34^th of his illustrious career and leaves him just $93 short of $400,000 in lifetime earnings. He is owned by Minore and trained by Taylor Gower.

 As for Minore it was his 94^th career driving victory in the USA and when one counts Minore's three triumphs in races contested in Europe he now needs just three more for 100 lifetime victories.

The NAADA trotting series continues next Thursday at Yonkers Raceway.

YONKERS BEGINS ‘ALL-SUPERFECTA MONDAYS’

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, March 29, 2018—Yonkers Raceway shall begin ‘All-Superfecta Mondays,’ effective this coming Monday (Apr. 2^nd).

“Mondays have been one of our best handle nights of the week, and we’re confident adding superfectas throughout the card are going to make it even better,” Raceway COO Bob Galterio said. “We appreciate the support of the New York State Gaming Commission in this request.”

To get an early start with your superfecta handicapping, Yonkers’ Monday programs are available for download at http://www.empirecitycasino.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/mon_program.pdf (no later than Friday afternoon).

I’m An Athlete, Allmyx’sliventexas clash

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

An Open Pace featuring I’m An Athlete and Allmyx’sliventexas and a Filly and Mare Open Pace that brings out Delightfully Wild and Directing Traffic head the marquee on Saturday night at Cal Expo.

I’m An Athlete and Allymx’sliventexas put on quite a show at the head of the class last week and get another chance to settle the score in the co-feature while leaving from the No. 6 and 7 outside post positions, respectively.

I’m An Athlete is an 8-year-old son of Art Major who carries the banner of Ronald Rettig-Zucchi, is trained by Jessie Pacheco and will once again have James Kennedy giving directions. He has four wins from nine starts on the year with a 1:51 1/5 lifetime standard.

After some tough trips from difficult posts in his previous two miles, I’m An Athlete returned to his winning ways last week. He was able to leave into a pocket trip behind the odds-on Allymx’sliventexas, tracked that one to the drive and was up by a nose in a 1:52 mile.

Allymx’sliventexas is a 5-year-old homebred who competes for Wayne and Rod Knittel, takes his lessons from Bob Johnson and has main man Mooney Svendsen back at the controls.

The hard-hitting performer had three straight victories going into last week’s Open, including a head-heat in the Glen Holt Memorial and a career-best 1:50 4/5 mile in his next outing despite being parked the mile that evening.

In last week’s clash, the Knittel colorbearer shot right to the front for Svendsen, opened a lengthy lead at midstretch but could not quite hold off the pocket-sitting I’m An Athlete in another strong outing.

Veteran mare Silverlode continues good fight

Silverlode added another victory to her resume last weekend as she dead-heated with Silverhill Volo in an Open II Trot, pushing her lifetime bankroll near the $175,000 mark.

A 9-year-old homebred daughter of British Sterling who races for Steve and Vickie Desomer and has been handled of late by Steve Wiseman, Silverlode is out of the top racemare and producer Charlotte’s Web.

The latter has had a very impressive group of performers on the racetrack. In addition to divisional leader Silverlode, she has had divisional leaders in Placer and Cadet; the takes-winning Kiss The Girls and a promising pair in Pay Dirt and Shudabinaclaudius.

Charlotte’s Web, who celebrated her 16^th birthday this year, is a daughter of Website who was a multiple stakes winner as a 2-year-old and was retired in the midst of her sophomore campaign.

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There are two wagers offered here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate – the 50-cent Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4.

The Pick 4 comes with a $50,000-guaranteed gross pool on Saturdays and a $30,000 guarantee on Fridays.

Last Saturday night’s Pick 4 returned a nifty $1,922 for each correct 20-cent ticket and would have paid $1,716 using the regular takeout. That’s $206 bonus for each ducket.

BIG M GEARING UP FOR SUPER SATURDAY

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Last Saturday, March 24, was a big one at the Meadowlands as for the second time this year, handle on the live program reached the magic $3 million mark.

Total play was $3,086,823 on the 12-race program, a number surpassed only once earlier in the meeting, when betting reached $3,454,633 on March 3.

In addition, the track saw big action on its Pick-4 and Pick-5 bets.

“$3 million is a huge number for a night-time track,” said Jason Settlemoir, the track’s chief operating officer and general manager. “And $127,239 in the Pick-4 pool? That’s a thoroughbred number. Obviously, we are very happy with the public response to our product and the New Meadowlands facility.

“There was more than $1.3 million wagered on all horse racing Saturday at the Meadowlands and that is an extremely big number as well. We are expecting another great Saturday this week with the $10 million Dubai World Cup and the $1 million Florida Derby. In addition, they’ll be the mandatory payout on the Gulfstream Rainbow 6. All of this leads up to the Final Four games in Victory sports bar and our live program Saturday night. The atmosphere in the building should be incredible.”

Last Saturday’s wild wagering represented a half-million dollar increase in play over the corresponding card from a year earlier, and the per race average of $257,235 was up over $44,000 from the year before.

The Pick-4 pool smashed the previous best by more than $25,000 while the Pick-5 pool of $72,123 represented a 2018 non-carryover best.

Free program pages for the Pick-4 (Races 8 through 11), courtesy of Track Master, are available on the Meadowlands’ website (www.playmeadowlands.com) and on the handicapping section at www.ustrotting.com.

SATURDAY STATS: The average pool sizes for Saturday’s card: Win, $44,961; Exacta, $67,964; Trifecta, $55,774; Superfecta, $40,518. On Race 8, which begins the Pick-4 sequence, a total of $363,411 was bet.

GIANT FRIDAY CARRYOVER: They’ll be plenty of opportunities for players to make money on the Friday card as well, but none as enticing as when the 11^th race 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five and its $161,463 carryover are in the spotlight. Post time on Friday and Saturday is 7:15 p.m.

FINAL FOUR IN VICTORY: The NCAA basketball tournament’s Final Four will be shown in Victory sports bar Saturday night. Cinderella 11-seed Loyola-Chicago takes on 3-seed Michigan in the first game at 6:09 p.m. while the 8:49 p.m. matchup features a pair of top-seeded powerhouses, Kansas and Villanova.

WORLD’S RICHEST RACE: The $10 million Dubai World Cup (post time, 12:50 p.m. EDT) from Meydan Racecourse will be on the Big M simulcast menu Saturday, as will the $1 million Florida Derby (post time, 6:30 p.m.) from Gulfstream Park.

Gulfstream’s Rainbow 6 will have a mandatory payout on Saturday, which is certain to create big noise, given that the carryover at the conclusion of Sunday’s card was just short of $4.5 million.

In the event the carryover continues through the end of Friday’s card, the Rainbow 6 pool could reach a staggering $20 million on Saturday, a day which could see a Gulfstream total handle in excess of $40 million. Post time for the first race at Gulfstream on Saturday is 11:30 a.m.

ARRIVE EARLY: To accommodate those who wish to watch and wager on the early races from Dubai, the doors at the Big M will open at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Meadowlands Friday Card

East Rutherford, NJ - The Easter holiday weekend of live racing at The Meadowlands kicks off with an eleven race card on Friday evening.

The featured event is race two a $17,500 overnight comprised of seven gifted pacing mares, five of which are coming into the race off a win in their most recent start.

Delightful Dragon has strung together a pair of wins, a 1:51.4 score at The Meadowlands two back followed by a trip across the Hudson to take the Preferred in 1:53.4 on the half mile oval. Trainer Noel Daley owns the now 7-year-old winner of nearly three quarters of a million dollars and Andy McCarthy will drive from post 3.

Juxta Cowgirl is using this race to prep for the upcoming Burning Point series which begins next week. The career winner 27 times from 47 starts dominated the Iowa fair circuit as a freshman and sophomore and has excelled since moving to the East coast for owners Stuart Oppenheimer, David Glasser and Robert Cooper. She won at first asking over the Meadowlands mile and takes on better foes this week. Mike Watson trains and Jim Marohn, Jr is back in the bike from post 6.

The popular "Driver Face Off" promotion returns, the "1 Million Penny Giveaway" debuts and the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pool is at $161,453 going into Friday's races. Get your free program pages here.

Post time is 7:15 p.m.

Krystal C Continues Impressive Run At Buffalo

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Krystal C continued an impressive 2018 campaign on Wednesday night (March 28) as she won her fourth consecutive race with a come from behind nose victory over Aritzia Hanover in Buffalo Raceway's featured $7,700 pace for the mares.

The 5-year-old Krystal C (Ray Fisher Jr.) has now hit the board in all nine starts this season and toured the Hamburg half-mile oval in a career-best 1:56.2 over the fast track. Her stellar record was overlooked however by the betting public as she returned a healthy $16.20 for the victory.

Things didn't look good for Krystal C with a quarter mile to pace as she was shuffled back to fourth and looked helplessly boxed in. But in the stretch, Krystal C was masterfully maneuvered to the outside and powered to the wire with a :28.4 last split to nose out Aritzia Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.). Cut And Paste (Shawn McDonough) took third. 

Owned and trained by Sabrina Clevenger, Krystal C (Sportswriter-Kayla's Raider) now has five victories in nine starts. The win bumped her seasonal earnings to $20,046 and $44,626 lifetime.

Call Me Maybe lit up the tote board in the tenth race as Shawn McDonough steered the mare to a $126.00 upset victory.

Fisher Jr. completed the evening with four victories in the bike while John Cummings Jr. and Shawn  McDonough had doubles. Trainer Ryan Swift conditioned a pair of winners.

Racing will resume on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with a 12-race card slated. 

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

Getter Queen Flush gets her done

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

Getter Queen Flush is coming off back-to-back solid efforts while joining forces with pilot Steve Wiseman for the first time, the most recent resulting in a head victory last weekend.

The 6-year-old pacing daughter of Jk Royal Flush is owned by Geoge Reider, Dave and Rob Haness and Richard Thomas with Reider doing the training. She set her lifetime mark of 1:53 1/5 here in February with Mooney Svendsen in the bike.

Two starts back, Getter Queen Flush ended up in a tough spot at the back of the pack early and found herself with too much to do in the lane while eventually finishing second, then had clear sailing in last week’s tour and prevailed as the 3-5 favorite.

“I was driving her for the first time two weeks ago and I outthought myself and got her locked in,” Wiseman related. “This last mile we got a good trip and she dug in after that horse got past her nearing the wire.”

As for Reider, he’s became a real fan of this hard-knocking performer. “There isn’t anything I don’t like about this mare,” he noted. “She’s a pleasure to be around and she tries hard every time.”

George also noted that Getter Queen Flush didn’t know what a carrot or an apple was when she came to his barn, “But now she’s a carrot and apple eating machine.”

She’s also turned into quite a machine over the Cal Expo layout, posing for snapshots following four of her 12 races on the year. Will she add to that total in the coming weeks? Stay tuned.

Eastender has top billing in featured Pace

Eastender, who has been knocking heads with the top pacers on the grounds, gets some class relief and heads the field for Friday night’s main event.

Watch and Wager LLC will present 12 races with first post set for 6:10 p.m. There will also be a trio of California Sire Stakes for the 4-year-old pacers and trotters decided as non-betting events prior to the regular card.

A 7-year-old son of Cheyenne Rei out of the Abercrombie mare Eastside Becky, Eastender is owned by Maryann Plano and Nikki Hudson and is reined and trained by Luke Plano.

Eastender will be looking for his first win on the year in his seventh trip to the post, but has been doing the majority of his work at the Open level while taking on the likes of division leaders Allymx’sliventexas and I’m An Athlete.

He made nine trips to the winner’s circle last season, including a lifetime-best 1:52 2/5 score over this layout and should hit very hard in Friday’s softer spot. He will do his work from the No. 6 post in the field of seven.

Gordie Graham will send out a solid pair in Bettor in the Bank and Prodigal and they will both have a serious say in the outcome with their top miles.

Rounding out the cast are Dontdoubthelakers, who takes his lessons from Lester Smith; the Lino Pacheco-conditioned Pancetta; Julerica from the Richard Remillard shedrow; and the Rene Goulet trained-and-driven Blue Star Maverick.                                  

FAVE SOMETIMESAWINNER WINS 63G FINAL OF SAGAMORE HILL PACING SERIES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, March 27, 2018—“He’s just push-button.”

Such was driver George Brennan’s take after odds-on favorite Sometimesawinner ($3.80) delivered the Tuesday night (March 27^th) mail in Yonkers Raceway’s $63,400 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series.

The annual Teddy Roosevelt revival was the Raceway’s richest race of the season to date.

The series, for 3- and 4-year-old young men who are/were non-winners of four races or $40,000 through last  Dec. 1^st,  offered three preliminary legs leading to the final.  Handy wins in his first two series starts earned Sometimeswinner last week off.

He was more than ready here. Nose-to-gate from post position No. 3 with some light rain falling, Sometimesawinner easily left around pole-sitting Abbeydorney (Jason Bartlett). That one offered enough early foot to stuff a wide second choice Point Somewherelese (Jeff Gregory) into a three-hole.

After early intervals of :27.2, and :56.2, Point Somewherelse had to choice but to extricate the cones. He moved toward the leader at the 1:24 three-quarters, ducking back in when Abbeydorney backed away.

Mach N Cheese (Jordan Stratton) was launching a deep bid from next-to-last, as Sometimeswinner widened to 2¼ lengths entering the lane. Point Somewherelse angled out to take another shot, but the leader proved too tough. Sometimesawinner prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.2.

Mach N Cheese did get into third, with Zone Blitz (Jim Marohn Jr.) and Fullback (Scott Zeron) rounding out the payees. Abbeydorney, Windsun Gotham (Dan Dube) and Obscene Blue Chip (Mark MacDonald) completed the order.  

For Sometimesawinner, a lightly-raced 3-year-old son of Well Said owned in Halifax, N.S, by David MacDonald and trained by Kevin Switzer, it was his fourth win in as many seasonal starts (seventh consecutive dating to last season). The exacta paid $13, with the triple (three wagering favorites in order) returning $46.20.

A $30,000 series consolation was won by Gerard N Mo (Zeron, $7.40) in a season’s-best 1:53.4.

CAVIART CHERIE WINS 62G FINAL OF PETTICOAT PACING SERIES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Monday, March 26, 2018—She beat the gate, then beat her foes, both with the greatest of ease.

Caviart Cherie (Jordan Stratton, $20.20) offered an eight-hole tour de force Monday night (March 26^th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $62,000 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series.

There wasn’t much to the finale, which wrapped a four-week series for  3- and 4-year-old lasses who are/were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1^st. All finalists were 4-year-olds.

Caviart Cherie, one of four ladies who had won twice in the prelims, quickly negated the ill-effects of an open-draw impost.

Leaving with the speed of a runner, Caviart Cherie hurdled the field early in the first turn. While doing so, she looped 4-5 favorite Diamondtoothgertie (George Brennan), that one eventually finding a seat fourth.

Caviart Cherie threw it down, as a :26.4 opening quarter-mile and :55.2 intermission. Chasing from a loose pocket was Jk Jazzitup (Mark MacDonald), with Gotthisone Hanover (Yannick Gingras) away third.

Diamondtoothegertie moved from fourth, but never came within shouting distance of Caviart Cherie. After a 1:23.3 three-quarters, the lead was three lengths entering the lane.

The final margin was a length-and-a-half in a season’s-best 1:54. Second went to Jk Jazzitup, with Diamondtoothgertie salvaging the bottom of the ticket. Dali Delight (Dan Dube), coupled with Jk Jazzitup, and Absolutely Best (Jason Bartlett) settled for the minors.

D G’s Elsa (Eric Goodell), Gotthisone Hanover and Lusty Delight (Greg Merton) completed the order.  

For third choice Caviart Cherie, a 4-year-old daughter of Well Said owed by Joe P Racing and trained by Matias Ruiz, it was her seventh win (with three seconds) in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta $69, with the triple returning $129.

“She overcame the eight-hole,” was Stratton’s succinct post-mortem.

“A shout-out to Matt Kakaley, who drove her very well,” Scott Pennacchio, son of Joe P Racing principal Joseph Pennacchio, said. “He gets a lot of the credit, and we hope he’s back soon.”

A $30,000 series consolation was won by favored Pull the Shade (Scott Zeron, $5.70) in 1:55.3, matching her week-old, life-best effort.

Tuesday night’s (March 27^th), it’s the Raceway’s annual Teddy Roosevelt testimonial, the Sagamore Hill concludes with a final worth $63,400. 

Buffalo Raceway Purse Increase

Effective on Wednesday April 4, purses will be increased 10% at Buffalo Raceway.  "It has been a difficult winter for everyone," said Race Secretary, Tom Agosti.  "With the cancellation of Friday racing due to a shortage of entries, and the weather related cancellations in January and February, it has given us the opportunity to increase purses in all classes. Hopefully this will have a positive impact on entries as we enter spring race dates."

For more including the latest condition sheet, results and entries, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

Dr. J HANOVER, ROCKIN’ RON DOUBLE UP IN SECOND ROUND OF LEVY SERIES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, March 24, 2018—Yonkers Raceway Saturday night (March 24^th) offered the second round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

A quartet of $50,000 events again brought together many of the marquee Free-For-Allers. The result was three, down-the-road winners, including two series repeaters.

The encore performers were faves Dr. J Hanover (Brett Miller. $4.10) and Rockin’ Ron (Yannick Gingras, $2.30) in the bookend divisions.

Dr. J Hanover won the draw for the second consecutive start and put his rivals to sleep for the second consecutive start. A cheapy (:27.4, :57.3) half served him well after another first-leg winner, Always at My Place (George Brennan), offered a hard, first-up challenge. That one was disposed after a 27-secomd third quarter (1:24.3), while Dr. J Hanover swelled up to two lengths entering the lane.

The final margin was 2½ lengths a season’s-best (purse start) 1:52.4. Chumlee A (Larry Stalbaum) lost touch in the pocket, crossed the line second but was set down to fourth for cutting some cones. That placed Keystone Velocity (Dan Dube) second and Bit of a Legend N (Jordan Stratton) third.

“He surprised me,” Miller said. “After that third quarter, he just opened up.”

For Dr. J Hanover, a 5-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by Brad Grant, Robert Leblanc, Steven Wienick & Irwin Samelman and trained by Tony Alagna, it was his second win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $21, with the triple returning $91.50.

            Rockin’ Ron, from post position No. 2, wanted no part of an early pocket. He took over from pole-sitting Luciano N (Brent Holland), then—with another pedestrian early portion—held that rival at bay (:26.3, :57, 1:24.4, 1:53.2).

            The margin was three-quarters of a length. Mach it So (Tim Tetrick), after last week’s win, turned in a solid, two-move effort for third from behind the eight-ball. 

For Rockin’ Ron, a 6-year-old Real Desire co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, RTC and J&T Silva Stables, it was his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $4.60, with the triple returning $19.20.

Saturday night’s third down-the-pike series winner was another wagering choice in Evenin’ of Pleasure (Joe Bongiorno, $3.20). From post No. 3, he took no prisoners (:26.2, :56.1, 1:24, 1:53.1). A wide-closing Bettor Memories (Kyle Husted) was second, with Another Daily Copy (Jason Bartlett) third and an out-the-mile Orillia Joe (Stratton) fourth.

For Evenin’ of Pleasure, a 8-year-old son of Dragon Again owned by Gestion J Y Blais and trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, it was her first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $31.40, triple returned $173 and the superfecta paid $558.

The night’s only off-the-pace series winner, a second-over Western Fame (Mark MacDonald, $11), was also the only non-winning second-round favorite.

From post No. 5, he parlayed a perfect tow behind Somewhere in L A (Bartlett), to whip that one by a length in 1:53.1. Missile J (Tetrick), the 9-10 choice, did not retake from polester Caviart Luca (Brennan) after that one led through intervals of :27, 57.1 and 1:24.3.

For this race, the soft fractions caved, effectively burying Missile J. He did end up a non-threatening third, beaten two lengths.       

For third choice Western Fame, a 5-year-old homebred son of Western Ideal owned by Brittany Farms and trained by Jimmy Takter, he’s now 1-for-3 this season. The exacta paid $40.20, the triple returned $85.50 and the superfecta (Franco Rayner [Bongiorno]) paid $275.50.

Saturday’s $40,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by Mostinterestingman (Bartlett, $6) in 1:56.2

The 12-race handle was $1,007,866, the Raceway’s first ‘non-French’ seven-figure wagering card of the season.  

Monday night (March 26^th) offers the $62,000 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares.

BIG M WAGERING SURPASSES $3 MILLION

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The action at the Meadowlands Saturday night was not only fast and furious on the track, but at the betting windows as well.

The industry’s handle leader had a huge night, as total wagering went past the magic $3 million mark for the second time this year.

Total play was $3,086,703 on the 12-race program (an average of $257,225 per race), a number surpassed only once earlier in March (the 3^rd), when betting reached $3,454,633.

The Pick-4 saw its biggest total pool of the year, as $127,239 was pushed through the windows, smashing the previous best by more than $25,000.

The Pick-5 established a new 2018 non-carryover pool high of $72,123.

‘BETTOR’ EDGES ‘JOE’ IN FEATURE: Bettor’s Edge bested Western Joe in the featured $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers by a half-length in 1:50.3. Durant was third.

Western Joe was the even-money favorite and deservedly so, having won this event in four of six attempts this year. He was on the lead from the start until deep stretch, but Bettor’s Edge was clearly the better of the pair on this night, as he went parked for the final half-mile before finally grabbing the lead nearing the finish.

Bettor’s Edge returned $11.40 to win as the third choice in the wagering. He was driven by Victor Kirby, trained by Jennifer Lappe and is owned by Lappe and Robert Santagata.

A LITTLE MORE: Andy Miller had the hot hand, driving four winners on the card. Kirby and Andrew McCarthy had three apiece. … The Late 20-Cent Jackpot Super High Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, upping the incredible carryover to $161,463. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Always N The Money Cashes In At Buffalo Raceway

by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway

HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Always N The Money ($28.00) cashed in on Buffalo Raceway's featured $8,800 pace on Saturday night (March 24) by holding back the late challenge of Im So Handsome by a neck in 1:56.1 over the fast track.

A perfect early first over move just before the half mile station by Always N The Money proved to be the winning decision by driver Shawn McDonough. Sitting fourth coming to the mid way point, Always N The Money went to the outside and quickly cleared to the lead and enjoyed the clean air until the top of the stretch.

From there, Always N The Money had pressure coming from all angles but was able to fight off the serious threats of Im So Handsome (Shawn Gray) and the favored Hardts Or Bettor (David McNeight III) who were second and third respectively.

Owned and trained by Jodie Cullen, it was the second victory in eight starts for the 8-year-old Always N The Money (Always A Virgin-Abbeycrombie). The gelding has now put $12,856 in the bank this season and $247,816 lifetime.

Gray ended the night with four victories in the sulky with Ray Fisher Jr. and Drew Monti getting doubles. Trainer James Clouser Jr. conditioned four winners.

Racing will resume on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. with an 11-race program scheduled.

For more information including the latest news, race replays, results, entries and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com

Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment Awards Three Seats to 2019 NHC

Joe McKay of Gaithersburg, MD, captured the March 24^th NTRA National Handicapping Championship Qualifier at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.  The $400 no-takeout contest attracted a field of 143 players representing several different states.  All entry fees went to the prize pool totaling $28,600.

 The Meadowlands NHC Qualifier required each contestant to make at least ten $20 minimum Win, Place, Show or WPS bets on their choice of races from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Fair Grounds. 

McKay built his $200 bankroll into $1,265.50 earning him the $11,440 top cash prize and seat in the 2019 NHC Final in Las Vegas.  McKay cashed on seven of his wagers including his final two wagers at Fair Grounds that netted him $496 and the top prize.

Also earning berths into the National Handicapping Championship Final were Frank Gryboski of Wayne, NJ and contest veteran Bill Rendino of Bronx, NY.

The top ten finishers along with contest prize payouts are below.

Place	Prize Money	Bankroll	First	Last	City	State
1	$11,440.00	$1,265.50	Joe	Mckay	Gaithersburg	MD
2	$5,720.00	$1,231.90	Frank	Gryboski Jr	Wayne	NJ
3	$2,860.00	$1,182.00	Bill	Rendino	Bronx	NY
4	$2,145.00	$1,173.90	Kevin	Engelhard	Franklin Park	NJ
5	$1,430.00	$1,120.00	Ed	Wright	Brooklyn	NY
6	$1,001.00	$895.00	Stelios	Kandias	Ridgewood	NJ
7	$1,001.00	$868.00	Alan	Cohen	Hackensack	NJ
8	$1,001.00	$774.60	Jeff	Bussan	New Canaan	CT
9	$1,001.00	$565.00	Frank	Costa	Rutherford	NJ
10	$1,001.00	$540.50	Mark	Acerra	SI	NY