BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, October 12, 2019—It
was sort of a shame to refer to these as ‘undercard events,’ but favored Mission
Accepted (Yannick Gingras, $5.90) and McWicked (Brian Sears, $6.90) were as
advertised Saturday afternoon (Oct. 12th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s
$250,000 Harry Harvey and Dan Rooney Invitational Trot and Pace, respectively.
The Harvey saw Mission Accepted work out a
perfect, second-over sojourn behind Rich and Miserable (Tyler Buter). The
latter, Eye ofa Tiger AS (Jason Bartlett), Will Take Charge (Jordan Stratton)
and Emoticon Hanover (Dan Dube) were all part of the early scrum in the
mile-and-a-quarter event.
It was Will
Take Charge who led through intervals of :28; :56.2 and 1:26, with Rich and
Miserable out for a second move. The one engaged the leader in and out of the
1:54.4
mile marker, with Mission Accepted—from post position No. 2—ready for his cue.
Reprising the International, the
second-over was first, as Mission Accepted wen wide and widened, winning by 2¾
lengths in an added-distance 2:23.4. An out-the-duration Custom Cantab (Dave
Miller) was tremendous for second, with a tiring Will Take Charge, Speeding
Spur N (Brian Sears) and Eye ofa Tiger AS settling for the minors.
For Mission Accepted, a 4-year-old son of
Manofmanymissions co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver
Bruscemi, Knox Services and David Willis, it was his fifth win in 20 seasonal
starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $16.80, the triple paid $60.50
and the superfecta paid $440.
“He just overachieves,” Gingras said. “I
couldn’t have asked for a better trip and he gives 120 percent.”
While pondering whether that’s even
possible, a word about McWicked…and that word, said with love, is freak.
Last season’s Dan Rooney champ became this
season’s Dan Rooney champ, doing it the hard way.
McWicked ground down 9-5 choice Jimmy
Freight (Scott Zeron), then held off Micky Gee N (Stratton) by a nostril in
1:51.1.
It was the 40th career win for
McWicked.
From post No. 6, he was away fourth as
Jimmy Freight two-moved around None Bettor A (Bartlett), throwing down a swift
quick gauntlet (:26.2, 55.1, 1:22.4)
along the way.
McWicked
methodically moved toward the leader early in the lane, with Jimmy Freight
giving way…albeit grudgingly. After Micky Gee N and Jimmy Freight, locals The
Real One (Pat Lachance) and Theartofconfusion A (Austin Siegelman) picked off
the leftovers.
For second choice McWicked, an 8-year-old
son of McArdle owned by S S G Stables and trained by Casie Coleman, it was his
sixth win in 15 ’19 tries. The exacta paid $74.50, the triple paid $369.50 and
the superfecta paid $1,710.
“I was happy where I was able to get away
and I knew I’d have to chase someone,” Sears said. “I’m glad for him. He’s
battled foot issues during the summer and he’s such a pleasure to drive. He’s
given me a lot of thrills.”
McWicked and
his now $4,878,342 career bankroll show few signs of letting up.
