YONKERS, NY, Thursday, September 6, 2012--First-season statebreds were on display Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $290,455 New York Sire Stakes Jim Crawford Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Four divisions went at it.
Sheppard Pace winner Hail the Taxi (John Campbell) enjoyed yet another
successful Westchester work night, this time in the third ($71,605) event.
The son of Art Major, who authored a 35-1 stunner in that $119,000 July stakes
race, was a quite impressive, three-move winner here...despite a 33-day layoff.
Leaving outside his six rivals, he was wide early before finding a seat in
fourth. Artist Night (Ron Pierce) was off to the races at the races, after a
28-second opening quarter-mile and a 57-second half.
Hail the Taxi was on the move again by the half, making up lengths going to the
1:25.2 three-quarters. He ducked in for a breather when Manhattan Benny
(Stephane Bouchard) tired, biding his time as Artist Night maintained a short
lead turning for home.
However, once the "Taxi" pulled pocket, he was gone. Hail the Taxi
rolled and widened, winning by four lengths in 1:55. He defeated slight 3-2
favorite Sir Cary's Z Tam (Pat Lachance), who snapped Artist Night for second.
For Hail the Taxi, trained by Jim Campbell for owner Fashion Farms, he returned
$5 (though as second choice) for his second win in five seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $13.80, with the triple returning $25.
"He's been a ready-made horse from the horse from the beginning,"
John Campbell said. "He's done whatever we've asked, nothing fazes him and
he was very good tonight."
Thursday's final ($72,905) statebred event saw Bet The Moon (Jason Bartlett)
make the lead (:27.4 opening quarter), then sting division leader Doctor Butch
(Tim Tetrick) before releasing the 15-cents-on-the-dollar choice in the second
turn. "Butch" then found a :56.4 intermission and 1:26.1
three-quarters, taking a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane.
However, Bet the Moon ducked inside and picked off the people's preference,
prevailing by a neck in 1:55.2. Third went to Ronny Bugatti (George Brennan),
with Framed Art (Mark MacDonald) fourth.
For Bet the Moon, a Bettor's Delight colt owned by Edwin Gold and trained by
Ron Burke, he returned $10.20 (second choice) for his second win in eight '12
tries. The exacta paid $21.80, the triple paid $112 and the superfecta paid
$268.50.
The
opening ($72,905) division was won by second-choice Track Master D (Bartlett),
who retook the lead from Scalped (Montrell Teague), cut the mile (:28.3, 58,
1:27), then held that one off by a half-length in a life-best 1:55.2. The
winner had to withstand an objection by the runner-up.
Swift as a Shadow (Tetrick) was a first-up third as the 6-5 choice, with a
Bettor World (Brennan) fourth.
For Track Master D, a Bettor's Delight colt trained by Tony Alagna for
co-owners Louis Willinger, Tangie Massey, Minisink Farms and Eagles Soar
Partners, he returned $4.70 for his second win in five seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $29.40, the triple paid $56 and the superfecta returned $172.50
The second ($72.905) grouping saw a pocketed 12-1 shot Visa Viper (Brennan)
easily go by 1-5 favorite Deny Deny Deny (Tetrick) by a length-and-a-quarter in
a life-best 1:54.2. The fave had led through fractions of :28.2, 57.3 and 1:26.
Third went to America'sgottalent (Bartlett), with Story Book (Larry Stalbaum)
fourth
For Visa Viper, a son of Bettor's Delight co-owned by Gus and Alan Johnston and
trained by Brian Magie Jr., he paid $27.60 (third choice) for his second win in
eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $42.60, the triple returned $84 and the
superfecta paid $170.
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.
