The 58th edition of Yonkers' premier trotting event is worth $445,594 and goes
as the sixth race on Saturday night's 13-race wagering card. Post time is the usual
7:10 PM ET, with the Trot scheduled for approximately 9 PM.
Googoo Gaagaa, he of the pacing sire (Cam's Rocket) and the modest upbringing,
has won 11 of his 12 career starts and $345,945. Googoo Gaagaa enters off a
1:50.4 effort--fastest ever over a five-eighths mile oval--in last month's
$500,000 final of the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial at Pocono.
Richard Hans is Googoo Gaagaa's breeder, owner and trainer, with Corey Callahan
driving.
The quintet of Yonkers Trot starters, in post position order with declared
drivers, are…1--Googoo Gaagaa (Corey Callahan), 2-Stormin Normand (Dave
Palone). 3-Market Share (Jeff Gregory), 4-Muscolo (Ray Schnittker) and
5-Archangel (Jim Morrill Jr.).
The
companion event, the Hudson Filly Trot, attracted three soph fillies, is worth
$185,194 and goes as a non-wagering event between races 3 and 4 on the betting
card.
Millionairess Check Me Out (Schnittker), last season's divisional champ, drew
in between Real Babe (Gregory) and Aunt Mel (Brent Holland).
Check Me Out, a daughter of Donato Hanover, was last seen winning the $519,400
final of Mohawk's Elegantimage for her 17th win with three seconds in 20
lifetime starts. Check Me Out, co-owned by (trainer) Schnittker and Charles
Iannazzo, makes her small-track debut in the Hudson.
Tuesday night's $337,270 New York Sire Stakes Michael Sorentino Trot for
3-year-old colts and geldings was contested in three divisions, worth $113,090,
$110,090 and $113,090, respectively.
Talented homebred Coraggioso (Phil Fluet, $3.20) with co-owners/breeders Joe
Spadaro and Tom Durkin dutifully in attendance, wired the first event in
1:56...a tick off the track record for 3-year-old trotting colts. It was the
first time Durkin, whose day job--for those not paying attention--is that of
nonpareil NYRA track announcer, has seen his horse perform in person.
"He always races better when I don't show up," is the no-longer-valid
excuse.
Mado Dream (George Brennan) was second, beaten a length, with War Cry Hall
(Jason Bartlett) third.
Coraggioso, a son of Conway Hall trained by Fluet, is now 4-for-6 this season
and 8-for-15 in his career (earnings approaching $270,000). The exacta paid
$13.60, with the triple returning $59.
Prohibitive choice Delano (Schnittker, $2.20) went the distance in the second
division, defeating Gaelic and Garlice (Jim Morrill Jr.) by 3¼
lengths in 1:56.4. Third went to Royal Shyster (Gregory).
Delano, a Credit Winner colt co-owned by his trainer/driver, along with Tom
Vassiliou, Nick Tallarico and Delano Stable, is 3-for-5 on the season with nine
wins in 20 career starts (earnings now past $300,000). The exacta paid $10,80,
with the triple returning $32.80.
Brookroad Knight (Morrill. Jr., $6.30) won the final statebred division,
handling 3-5 choice Trouble (Brennan) by 3¼ lengths in 1:57.2. Macksmith (Sam
Schillaci) was third as the 53-1 rank outsider.
"Brookroad," a homebred CR Excalibur colt owned by John O'Connor and
trained by Bruce Borden, is 2-for-6 on the season. The exacta paid $11.60, the
triple returning $87.
