YONKERS, NY, Saturday, November 10, 2012--Bolt the Duer (Mark MacDonald) prevailed
from the pocket Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $415,820 Messenger
Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
It was a case of role reversal in the third jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown.
Bolt the Duer, who had cut the mile only to finish second to Pet Rock in the
Art Rooney Pace here this past June. This night, it was Pet Rock (George
Brennan) leading the charge.
Away alertly from post position No. 7, Pet Rock worked around Bolt the
Duer--he in play from post No. 5--securing the lead before a 27-second opening
quarter-mile. Pole-sitting Hillbilly Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.), sent off as the
3-2 choice despite entering the race 0-for-19 this season, was nestled third.
Domethatagain (Brent Holland) broke behind that one.
Pet Rock rated a comfy :29.1 second quarter (:56.1 half) before A Rocknroll
Dance (Dave Miller) pulled from fourth. That moved forced Pet Rock to turn up
the tempo, which he did through a :27.3 third quarter (1:23.4). Lawgiver
Hanover (Eric Goodell) raced from second-over.
The quick third stanza kept A Rocknroll Dance and the rest of the outer flow at
bay, but could not shake Bolt the Duer. The match-race Messenger was on.
Pet Rock held a length lead into the lane, but Bolt the Duer ducked inside and
was about to exact some revenge. He whipped Pet Rock by the exact same
trip/same margin--a passing lane half-length--that Pet Rock beat him in the
Rooney. The 1:51.2 mile was the fastest edition of the Messenger held here
(Allamerican Ingot's 1:50.3 at the Meadows in 2003 is the stakes record). He
also became harness racing's newest millionaire (career earnings $1,036,063).
Hillbilly Hanover was third, beaten four lengths, with A Rocknroll Dance and a
recovering Domethatagain completing the cashers. Lawgiver Hanover, New York
Sire Stakes champ Major Bombay (Brian Sears) and Steelhead Hanover (Jason
Bartlett) rounded out the order.
For Bolt the Duer, a son of Ponder trained by Peter Foley for All Star Racing,
he returned $6 (second choice) for his eighth win in 16 seasonal starts
($822,005). The exacta paid $27, the triple returned $61.50 and the superfecta
paid $135.
"I couldn't have asked for a better trip," MacDonald said of the colt
who set a world record in the Adios over the summer. "Pet Rock was the
horse I wanted to sit behind, and my colt felt great.
"I have to give all the credit to
Peter (Foley). I honestly thought (Bolt the Duer) was done after Kentucky
(Lexington), but he was as good tonight as he's been all season."
"It's been a season with a lot of highs and some disappointments, but I
couldn't be happier right now," Foley said. "After Lexington, we took
him to get checked out and found blood in his lungs. We put him on Lasix,
skipped the Breeders Crown and pointed him toward this race."
Shrewd move.
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.
