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Thursday, July 19, 2012

YR - YONKERS HOSTS SATURDAY'S 119G FINAL OF LAWRENCE B SHEPPARD PACE

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

YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, July 18, 2012--Yonkers Raceway's Saturday card is highlighted by the $119,000 final of the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Post time for the baker’s dozen bonanza is 7:10 PM, with the feature going as the sixth race (approximate post 9 PM).

The Sheppard--a Raceway stakes staple for decades which was named for the man who helped make Hanover Shoe Farms a giant in the breeding business--returns after a nine-year hiatus.

In the interest of full disclosure, the Sheppard actually returned last Saturday night, with a trio of $25,000 eliminations.

Those elims produced these eight finalists, with the open draw producing the requisite intrigue.

Doctor Butch (Jason Bartlett) turned in the fastest effort a week ago, strolling home by four lengths in 1:55.2. However, the ($55,000) Art Major colt, owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, needed better friends in the race office after landing the always-coveted eight-hole for the final.

"Butch" began his career with a second-place effort in a Monticello New York Sire Stakes event.

Scalped (Cat Manzi, post 4) and OK Fame (Brent Holland, post 6) won the other elims, in 1:56.1 and 1:56.3, respectively.

The former, a ($4,000) son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Brenda Teague and trained by George Teague  Jr., also won a sire stakes event (Monti), while the latter, a (homebred) son of The Panderosa, was up a by nose in a race with final-yards tight quarters. Mark Ford co-owns (with breeder) Oak Knoll Stables and trains.

The author's choice for early favoritism went to Rocnrolwilneverdie (George Brennan, post 2), who, as the 3-5 choice to Scalped a week ago, threw down a big, back-half challenge before ending up third. The ($55,000) son of Rocknroll Hanover is trained by Chris Ryder for co-owners Frederick Schwartz, Shirley Schwartz and ONDA Racing Stable.

The field for the final of the Sheppard, with drivers and morning-line odds...1-Dealmaker (Larry Stalbaum, 6-1), 2-Rocnrolwilneverdie (George Brennan, 8-5), 3-A  Bettor World (Jim Pantaleano, 10-1), 4-Scalped (Cat Manzi, 5-1), 5-Americasgottalent (Eric Goodell, 5-1), 6-OK Fame (Brent Holland, 8-1), 7-Hail the Taxi (Jordan Stratton, 12-1), 8-Doctor Butch (Jason Bartlett, 4-1). 

Bartlett also drove Scalped to his elim win, but chose Doctor Butch--despite the impost--for the final. Dealmaker is the lone gelding in the field.

The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.